Christian Living

Shaded Lampstand

by Thomas Kirkpatrick
11/11/21
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“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.” (Matthew 5:14-15)

As I go about in my routine, I’ve noticed an increase of anger in people I come into contact with. A lot has happened in the past several years, and now moving through the election process, the anxiety is becoming more intense. With Corvid lasting much longer than our patience, civil disobedience in a few major cities, and unrest most everywhere else, stress levels are strained. With candidates throughout our country campaigning, it becomes harder to find the truth in the words they speak. Truth has always been elusive and too often falls to opinion. I can understand the levels of anxiety today, and it would be nice if all could find a spot on a South Pacific Island to relax. A peaceful place to find our true North.

There is a place to find peace and lasting joy in this world but not in this world. A Kingdom farther away than the universe we live in, some of us are focused on, and by the grace of God will be there soon. The world we live in will always be a mess, as we are reaping the reward of sins that had fractured God’s perfect creation long before any of us were. Some will never find it as a result of a fatal rejection of God’s truth. We had seen it before in Adam and Eve when they accepted the temptation of the serpent of old. We saw it again when their firstborn male child murdered his brother Able. When we open our eyes, we see the same fatal error played out every day. The world cries for peace, the world cries for truth, and then Pilate rejects it when face to face with the truth. (John 18:37-38)

Cain was a farmer growing his produce by working the ground, while his brother Able worked the cattle and livestock. They were the sons of Adam and recognized, as their parents, God was their Creator. In appreciation of God, Cain and Able brought sacrifices from their labors. Cain brought some of the fruit from his garden, and Able brought the first of his livestock. The Lord was pleased with the offering of Able, but not of Cain, and Cain was upset about that.

Some say God was displeased because it was not an animal offering, and there was no blood sacrifice. In Hebrew law, grain offering was acceptable. I think the Lord rejected Cain’s offering because of the heart in which he gave it. Some say Able gave cheerfully the first and best for his offering, and Cain gave what was leftover. I don’t read that anywhere in the story. I think Cain was selfish and then jealous of Abel. The anxiety of this made Cain angry.

In his selfishness, Cain felt that God should accept anything he gave. Belief like this shows that Cain did not know God but was a son of Satan. We will see more of Cain’s selfishness as the story plays out. In times of anger, people should seek counsel, as anger causes people to fall into bad things. Many sins are caused when one is angry. “For this is the message which you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another; not as Cain, who was of the evil one and slew his brother. And for what reason did he slay him? Because his deeds were evil, and his brother’s were righteous.” (1 John 3:11-12)

The Lord came to Cain and questioned him. God often challenges us to see if we know, as He does. It must have been a rhetorical question as the Lord did not wait for an answer but gave Cain some excellent counsel along with excellent practical advice. “Then the LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? “If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it.” (Genesis 4:6-7) God is the loving Father trying to advise Cain so he would avoid the pit. People, when they hear good advice, either will accept or reject it. The choice will determine their future. 

Cain and Able went into the field, and Cain killed his brother. “Then the LORD said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” And he said, “I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?” He said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood is crying to Me from the ground.” (Genesis 4:9-10). Cain answers with a famous cop-out answer, “am I my brother’s keeper.” Here Cain stood before the Lord God Almighty and lied. Cain showed no remorse for what he had done and offered no apology or no desire for repentance. The Lord cursed Cain that the ground would no longer produce fruit and that he would never have a home and would wander on the earth.

Cain felt this punishment was unfair. He would have to leave home, the Lord’s face would be hidden from him, and people would want to kill him. The Lord, not wanting Cain to perish, placed a mark on him and cursed anyone who killed him. (Genesis 4:11-15) Cain is selfish, as he never accepts fault for his brother’s death. Cain never admitted he had done anything evil. All of his concern was what God’s punishment would do to him, not the life he took from his brother. The Lord God Almighty is never more than one step away from a heart of repentance. “Behold, the LORD’s hand is not so short That it cannot save; Nor is His ear so dull That it cannot hear. But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, And your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear.” (Isaiah 59:1-2)

Today we are in the Church Age, the age of God’s grace, His Son Jesus Christ. It is a wonderful time to be alive. We always seem to remember the good old days, but I am excited for the days ahead. Each day we are closer to the day the Lord will return and justify all of humanity’s history, the good and the bad. If we know Jesus or not, He is always near for the repentant heart to seek forgiveness. It may be a time of anxiety troubling to the spirit, but Jesus is still calling, “Oh, sinner come home.” “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matthew 11:28-29)

Confession and repentance bring peace between our wicked ways and God. Not only does it free us from the guilt of past days, but it opens the doors to the Kingdom of God. We can have it here today and have true hope for it in eternity. “Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 2:38)

There are so many Christians today that lack the power that lives within them, the Holy Spirit. People get caught in the distractions of this world, lose their focus on Jesus and His Spirit’s power guiding their lives. It is not our work but His work through us, and all we have to do is keep Him ahead of us and follow where He leads in faith. Having faith in His word walking in the power of His Spirit. We need not get caught up in the distractions but live His message and shine the light of His truth. “It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority; but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.” (Acts 1:7-8)

We are to plant the seeds of His truth, so they will hear and know. Beyond a good testimony, it is not our message but His in the power of His Spirit. “My message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power.” (1 Corinthians 2:4) There is no worry about what we will do or say, as we just surrender to His will and give what He gives us. “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.” (John 14:28) We do not need to preach hellfire and damnation to live and share the good news of His Kingdom. Conviction is the power of absolute truth and is the work of the Holy Spirit. “And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment.” (John 16:8)

Every Christian has the power of the Holy Spirit, and too many have placed a lampshade over His light. Cain knew God, but he had darkness in His heart. Judas knew Jesus, but he had darkness in his heart. Too many Christians have darkness in their heart. Confess and repent and remove the darkness in your heart, and the faithful and true Lord will cleanse you that your light will shine bright. (Psalm 59:10-19) The god of this world (Satan) will distract you from your Lord in any way that he can. Please do not allow him to cover the light that shines in you eternal. “But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.” (Romans 8:11)

Thomas N Kirkpatrick

First Baptist Church of Durant, September 7, 2020