Worst Case Scenarios: The Layers Behind Sinful Choices

The phrase “love one another” is something that will be seen in those who are of Christ. In 1^st John 3:12, John speaks of Cain… saying “Not as Cain….” The charge is to love one another, “Not as Cain…” Cain is the contrast of what it looks like to love one another. He was “of the wicked one” meaning he was the product of who he belonged to, Satan. Because he murdered his brother Abel, there was evidence. Why did Cain murder his brother? Because his works were evil and his brothers were righteous. What led Cain to murder his brother was a matter of obedience and disobedience. Because of his disobedience, GOD did not accept his offering, because of obedience GOD accepted Abel’s offering. The Hebrew writer tells us that Abel offered a more perfect sacrifice than Cain because it was of faith. “Faith comes from hearing the word of GOD…” (Romans 10:17) Abel’s sacrifice was the product of faith. Cain’s sacrifice was not, and he became angry. Rather than be accountable he murdered his brother who acted righteously. Had Cain responded in faith to the word of GOD the incident with his brother would have never happened. There are decisions we can make early that prevent worst case scenarios. For example, the person who never takes their 1st drink will never become drunk. Therefore they will never be in danger of driving while drunk and will never be the cause of someone else’s misfortune or death because of their drinking. The jealousy and anger that resulted in Cain murdering his brother would not have been present had he too offered his sacrifice in faith. Worst case scenarios regarding sin are often preceded by several layers of decisions that began with peeling back that first layer. Do not pull back the first layer and none of the subsequent ones will be revealed and we will never be the cause of the worst possible outcome coming to fruition.