So the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.” (Genesis 4:6-7)

Overcoming Sin

Satan deceived the woman in the garden to disobey the command of God, and when Adam took the forbidden fruit, the world’s fate was sealed. The righteousness of the Lord could not abide the transgression of Adam and Eve, and they were expelled from the garden. Nothing is known of the first years of life outside the garden, but the first child born in the world was called Cain. Another child was born, and they named him Abel. In time, Cain and Abel grew to adulthood. Following the command of God, Cain and Abel brought sacrifices to the Lord.

From the beginning, God has required worship in spirit and truth. Adam and Eve understood this, as did Cain and Abel. Cain brought the offering of the fruit of the ground to the Lord as an acceptable sacrifice as he was a tiller of the ground or farmer. Abel shepherded flocks and brought to the Lord the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. There does not seem to be anything wrong with the sacrifices, but the heart of Cain was evil. God respected the sacrifice of Abel and refused to acknowledge the sacrifice of Cain. Because God refused to accept the offering of Cain, the firstborn son became upset and full of anger.

Sin had troubled man from the first day Adam and Eve walked out of the garden. In the passing of time, before the offerings of Cain and Abel, Satan sought to destroy the creation of God. The devil had gained a foothold in the heart of Cain. He had a wicked heart. His jealousy and hatred for his brother increased daily because Abel’s sacrifices were more excellent than Cain’s, and God accepted Abel’s offerings. Sin also comes with a warning. When Cain’s heart turned dark toward Abel, the Lord came to Cain and warned him. Cain could have changed his heart and found love for his brother. He refused the admonition of the Lord and killed Abel.

God did not leave Cain without an avenue of escape. Rarely has the Lord come to a man about to commit a terrible crime and warned him directly of the consequences. God comes to Cain and asks him why he is so angry and dejected. Sin does not have to conquer the soul. A penitent heart can change angry hearts and bring joy. If Cain changed his heart and did the right thing, God would accept him. The problem with sin is how deeply entrenched the tentacles of evil can reach the spirit of a man. If Cain did not change his heart, dire consequences would occur. God warns Cain that sin is crouching at the door of his heart to murder his brother. Satan was eager to control Cain, and Cain was allowing it.

Sin does not have to have dominion over the heart. God tells Cain he can win this battle. Warning him of the consequence of uncontrolled anger, the Lord reminds Cain he can subdue sin and be its master. Evil can be overcome, and Cain could win that battle if he chooses. Sadly, Cain’s heart was full of hatred, and it came to pass when Cain was talking with his brother in the field; Cain attacked Abel and killed him. Satan rejoiced. Cain murdered his brother. The devil’s evil plan had taken wings, and the world would be held under the sway of sin. Many generations later, God would destroy all life on earth because the intent of the heart was only evil continually. The only souls saved during the devastating flood were the eight found in the ark.

There is no reason to sin, and man is without excuse. The three-fold plan of Satan is clearly defined in scripture as the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life. There is no doubt about how the devil operates. God offers a three-fold plan to defeat Satan. It is possible for a man to do well. He can do the right thing. Secondly, he must choose which path to follow. Will the heart seek the path of truth and righteousness or the broad way of destruction? Sin is a choice. Man cannot blame God or others for his decision. Sin is personal. The third part of God’s answer is that man can rule over sin. Sin can be mastered. There is no excuse for sin to have dominion over a man’s heart. God has given men the ability to reject, refuse, and deny sin. Cain killed Abel because his heart was evil, and he refused to bring it into subjection.

Cain killed Abel, but his murderous act did not happen without warning. It is possible to do the right thing. There is a right path to choose. Sin can be defeated. Jesus lived a perfect life because He overcame the power of sin. We should not use sin as an excuse to sin. It is possible to sin less in life if we have the will. Choose to do the right thing. Sin crouches at the door. Don’t open the door. Stay away from the door. Remove yourself far from that door. Master the spirit to serve the Lord. Don’t sin.