Corona Devo 1914

When we were kids, there were a few October's when we constructed a makeshift graveyard in our front yard around Halloween.  We used paper grocery bags and stuffed them with wadded-up newspaper and turned them upside down, planting them on the lawn for a 3-D tombstone effect.  I remember spending a considerable amount of time considering what we would write on each gravestone.  Things like "Ben Better" and "Here Lies Noah Moore" were written in black marker and we thought we were so clever.

I wouldn't be caught dead (no pun intended) making a front yard graveyard display these days, but do we ever think about what will be printed on our grave or tombstone?

How to sum up a life?  ...How to sum up our life? 

I was struck by how the Book of Hebrews summed up Abel's life, and in reading Hebrews 11:4, I considered that it would be a blessing for our lives (and our faith) to be summed up as Abel's was:

It was by faith that Abel brought a more acceptable offering to God than Cain did. Abel’s offering gave evidence that he was a righteous man, and God showed his approval of his gifts. Although Abel is long dead, he still speaks to us by his example of faith.   ~Hebrews 11:4

If we know the Biblical account of Cain and Abel, they were brothers (sons of Adam and Eve) and both brought an offering to the Lord, but Abel's was found more pleasing to the Lord.  Cain got jealous and killed Abel.  

Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. (3) In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. (4) And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, (5) but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast. 

(6) Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? (7) If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.” 

(8) Now Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.” While they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.  

(9) Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?”  

“I don’t know,” he replied. “Am I my brother’s keeper?”  

(10) The Lord said, “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground.  ~Genesis 4:2-10

Did we know that out of the very first four humans that God created...one murdered another?  

Anger is a topic for another day, but today, let's notice that Abel's offering was found pleasing to the Lord, and that even after Abel died, his example of faith still speaks to us.

That's what we want to be said of us after we are dead and buried, isn't it?  (That our example of faith still speaks.)  People may not remember our heirloom recipes or how large our bank account was, but what if our example of faith still spoke to them after we are long gone?

And so, if Abel brought an offering to the Lord (and it was found pleasing), then we must also.  

But what?  

And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering...  ~Genesis 4:4

Abel gave an animal sacrifice, and this was what the Lord required and what pleased Him.

And so, should we provide an offering of a dove, lamb, pigeon, goat, or bull?  The first seven chapters of the Book of Leviticus in the Bible detail out animal sacrifices that were required in order to cleanse people of their sins before God.  

And so, is it animal offerings that will speak of our example of faith?

Well, it was animal offerings, until the Lord gave the ultimate blood sacrifice to cleanse us from our sins, in the form of His Son.  

That offering (Jesus) was more costly and valuable than any animal could ever be.  And Jesus paid it all for us. 

The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming—not the realities themselves. For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship... (4) It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins...

First he said, “Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them”—though they were offered in accordance with the law. (9) Then he said, “Here I am, I have come to do your will.” He sets aside the first to establish the second. (10) And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.  ~Hebrews 10:3-4, 8-10

And so, if Jesus Christ was the sacrifice given for our sin, what can be our offering today?  How can we understand and live the faith that Abel lived, and how can our example of faith speak to others even after we are long dead?

What does the Lord require of us today in order for us to establish a legacy of faith for tomorrow?

With what shall I come before the Lord and bow down before the exalted God?  Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? 

(7) Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of olive oil?  Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? 

(8) He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.  And what does the Lord require of you?  To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.  ~Micah 6:6-8

There we have it. If we can live in these ways today, then this is our faith offering, and our faith will be remembered tomorrow. By living in these ways, we provide an acceptable offering to God, and if nothing more than that was said of us after we die: it would be enough.

~~~

Although Abel is long dead, he still speaks to us by his example of faith.   ~Hebrews 11:4

Blessings,  

sarah  

https://sarahsundy04.blogspot.com