Most of us don’t wake up one morning and decide to blow up our lives. We don’t suddenly decide to destroy a friendship, become bitter toward our spouse, compromise our integrity, or walk away from God. Usually, it happens slowly. Someone from work does something to hurt us. We go to the Domain in Austin with our friends and we are distracted because we are replaying the events in our head over and over. Then, we interpret motives and characterize the person based on those interpretations. Eventually, hurt becomes resentment. Resentment begins to feel justified. And before long, we find ourselves saying or doing things we never imagined we would do.
Something Is Crouching at the Door
We see this progression in one of the earliest stories in the Bible. In Genesis 4, Cain and his brother Abel both bring offerings to God. God regards Abel and his offering, but He doesn’t regard Cain and his offering. Cain becomes angry and discouraged, but what happens next is fascinating. God moves toward Cain. He asks: “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen?” God already knows the answer. He’s inviting Cain to look below the surface at his emotions and motivations.
“Why are you angry?
And why has your countenance fallen?”
That’s a disturbing picture. Sin isn’t presented as an innocent object sitting beside the road waiting for Cain to stumble across it. It’s pictured like a predator crouching at the door.
“Sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it.”
Cain has a decision to make. And tragically, Cain doesn’t listen. Instead, Cain’s anger progresses into murder and he kills his brother Abel.
The Progression Usually Starts Small
Cain’s story is extreme, but the progression is painfully familiar. I am sure there are plenty of stories in life when someone really did hurt us? The hurt itself isn’t imaginary, but then we start dwelling on it. We replay the conversation while we’re driving. Or, we imagine what we should have said? It is a pattern that runs through humanity with something like:
- HURT
- DESIRE
- PASSION
- DEATH
It is at the third level, the passion level of our soul that we begin to justify and dehumanize a person so that we feel our action of withdrawal, gossip, slander, or violence is justified. This is how sin crouches at our door and masters us! That’s why one of the most courageous prayers we can pray is the prayer of Psalm 139, “Search me, O God, and know my heart.” Not just, “God, show me what they’re doing wrong.” “God, show me what’s happening inside me.”
God Keeps Moving Toward Cain
But there’s another pattern in Cain’s story that is easy to miss. Cain keeps moving away from God, but God keeps moving toward Cain. In Genesis 4 we see the Lord asking questions, following up, pressing in, and every time Cain pushes Him away. Even when Cain is facing the consequences of what he’s done, God still extends mercy toward him.
Cain’s tragedy isn’t that nobody warned him. Cain’s tragedy is that he wouldn’t listen. And that’s where Cain’s story becomes our story. We like to imagine ourselves as Abel, the innocent person being hurt by all the Cains of the world. But if we’re honest, we are more familiar with Cain. We know what it’s like to hold onto bitterness. We know what it’s like to use words to hurt someone. And, we know what it’s like to justify what’s happening inside us. It’s because sin has crouched at all of our doors!
Jesus Comes Toward People Like Cain
That’s why Jesus is such good news. God didn’t wait for us to clean ourselves up and find our way back to Him. He came to us! Jesus took on flesh and drew near to people who were far from God. It is at the cross, He takes our sin upon Himself. Genesis says Abel’s blood cried out from the ground for justice. But Hebrews 12:24 says the blood of Jesus “speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.” It’s because Jesus blood cries out for mercy! And, it is at the cross, we see both: God’s justice against sin and God’s mercy toward sinners.
It’s God’s justice because Jesus stands in our place and takes our judgment. But it is also God’s mercy because Jesus takes a judgment we deserve, so that people like Cain, and people like us, could receive forgiveness and life. That means we don’t have to hide what’s going on below the surface when we are mastered by sin. We don’t have to pretend we’re not bitter, or pretend we’re not angry when we’ve been hurt by others. Jesus already knows, and He came toward us anyway.
Don’t Make Cain’s Mistake
Genesis 4 eventually tells us that Cain “went out from the presence of the LORD.” That’s the tragedy. God moved toward Cain and Cain moved away from the Lord. So when God begins exposing something crouching at our door, let’s not make Cain’s mistake as a church in Austin. Let’s turn to Him. Let’s invite Him into the darkest parts of our soul, because we know He isn’t coming for condemnation. He’s coming for freedom!
North Village Church
This article was written by Pastor Michael Dennis, Lead Pastor at North Village Church. North Village Church is a non-denominational church in Austin, TX, by the Domain. It was established in 2009 and built around Jesus and Bible teaching. Are you looking for a church in Austin? At North Village Church we put Jesus at the center of our church family. We worship together every Sunday at 10:30am, encourage Christ centered fellowship through groups, and host special events such as Bible studies and Theological Training, to ensure that we are rooted in in God’s Word. We also serve our local community in association with several Austin based organizations.
North Village Church is made up of professionals, married couples, singles, and families who are wanting to experience the life-transforming power of Jesus. If you are a family with children or teens, we can support you with either or both our Kids Ministry and Youth Ministry. Check out our North Village Church calendar highlights.
NVC Online
Unable to attend this Christian Church in Austin? Don’t worry, because, through God’s provision, we have created NVC online, an Online Church streaming a worship service every Sunday from 10:30am Central Time. You can also watch our short, powerful sermons on demand and follow us on Instagram for daily Christ centered content.
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