Here are scripture verses- a few in the Old, most from the New Testament- that lay out the perfection to which we are all called to in the Christian life.
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God sends the flood, but also the corruption itself begged for the flood, too. It continues the Cain and Abel story, where Cain’s refusal to offer a worthy sacrifice and instead murders his brother for the audacity of being righteous, yet Abel’s blood cries out to God for vengeance. In Noah’s story, the violence of the wicked increases to the point where it is all they can imagine, so violence is of course their end. And again, in the Book of Exodus with the conflict between Moses and Pharaoh, Pharaoh starts Egypt’s judgment by murdering Hebrew babies and ends with Egyptian firstborn sons dying instead.
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Unworthy Sacrifice
Abel offered the very best: "the fat of his firstlings." Cain, it can be supposed by the absence of praise, did not bring the best or the first, but the leftovers. God rejected Cain’s offering. This is important to understand here and will guide you through life. You will have many options and opportunities in life that will take sacrifice to attain. Make sure what you are offering is worthy. Make sure what you are sacrificing for is worthy.
Cain refused to accept that his offering was unworthy of either him or God and thus he becomes bitter.
God visits and speaks the truth to Cain. But Cain refuses to acknowledge his error. He refuses to reorient himself correctly. He refuses the command to “do well”. He refuses God’s terms of what it means to offer something acceptable. Ingratitude turns quickly to bitterness in the heart of Cain. Instead of repentance and choosing to be a better man, Cain does what so many of us do and conspires against the goodness in others.
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The story of Adam and Eve illustrates the psychology and theology of sin for each of us, not just for our original parents. I want to walk through the temptation narrative in chapter 3 of Genesis so you can understand your own interior struggle with sin and imperfections.
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"In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was upon the face of the deep; and the Spirit of God was moving over the face of the waters." The two key concepts that the rest of the chapter answers is "Without form" and "void". On Days 1, 2, 3, God forms the creation and on the corresponding days of 4, 5, 6 He fills the void with creatures. This is the structure of the rest of the first creation account until we crown the week with the Sabbath Day of rest.
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