Photo Credit from Pinterest.com

“By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead.” —Hebrews 11:4

It is instructive to note that the Holy Spirit begins this demonstration of faith in God and the results it produces, not in our first parents, Adam and Eve (nothing is said of their faith), but in Abel. Perhaps their not being enrolled in this blessed roll is a warning to us all not to waste the talents and opportunities God has given to us.

The writer opens this chapter by saying, “Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for” (Hebrews 11:1-2). This belief in God impacted how they went about their lives and it is this fruit of their faith that drew to the ancients, God’s commendation. Faith is not an intangible belief in the heart but something that influences the conduct of the one who believes. James says “Faith without deeds is dead” (James 2:26).

Abel’s Faith

Abel’s faith in God expressed itself in what he offered to God as a sacrifice. Cain, a worker of the ground, brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the LORD, but Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. We cannot be absolutely sure of what it was about what was presented that made one acceptable and the other not, but the Bible is clear that “The LORD looked with favour on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favour”. Some have thought that the “fat portions” of Abel’s sacrifice were what made them acceptable, but the Bible is not explicit about that. Cain was a worker of the ground so what he had to offer (plants) didn’t have ‘fat’. Some think that fire must have come down from heaven to consume Abel’s sacrifices as a mark of its acceptance before God, but again, the Bible says nothing of that here, even though that would later be the case in God’s relationship with Israel. Whatever it was, it seems clear that the mark of acceptance was evident that even Cain saw it hence his anger against his brother: “Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast” (Genesis 4:3-4).

What is clear about Abel’s offering is that it was done from faith and it was better than Cain’s: “By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did”. It was by the same faith that “he was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his offerings” (Hebrews 11:4). The only way to please God is by faith. The Bible says that “without faith it is impossible to please God” (Hebrews 11:6). Paul says in his letter to the Romans that “whatever does not proceed from faith is sin” (Romans 14:23). Abel’s offering proceeded from faith and was accepted and commended by God. His faith was not merely a belief or conviction he held, but it manifested itself in his offering. Any faith that doesn’t do that is worthless for, as I mentioned earlier, “faith without deeds is dead” (James 2:26).

Abel’s offering proceeded from faith and was accepted and commended by God. His faith was not merely a belief or conviction he held, but it manifested itself in his offering

Dead, Yet Speaking

Abel’s faith didn’t only speak to his brother Cain, or the people of his generation. One of the blessings that God bestows on the demonstration of faith is that its fruit can outlive the person who possessed it. That is a worthy legacy — that one’s act of faith continues to speak to future generations even when the faithful one has gone home to be with the Lord. This is Abel’s testimony: “By faith he still speaks, even though he is dead” (Hebrews 11:4). How can a dead person continue to speak? It is by faith —their acts, motivated by and done in faith continue to be projected by God and used as a means of instruction to those who come behind. Let me go as far as saying a man of faith doesn’t die; the body of flesh may die and see corruption but the legacy lives on. The soul —the real life— goes to live with its maker. If Cain knew this, perhaps he wouldn’t have killed Abel. The Phillips translation says, “And though Cain killed him, yet by his faith he still speaks to us today.”

Let me go as far as saying a man of faith doesn’t die; the body of flesh may die and see corruption but the legacy lives on. The soul —the real life— goes to live with its maker.

What is the message that Abel continues to speak to us even today? (1) “The Lord respected Abel and his offering” (Genesis 4:4). The Lord has respect first for the man of faith and then for his acts of faith. We can thus rejoice in the same, that though sinful, we can find acceptance before God, but by a better sacrifice, that of Christ, whose blood speaks better things than the blood of Abel (Hebrews 12:24). (2) “He obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts” (Hebrews 11:4). We too come into justification —the declaration that we are righteous in God’s sight— through faith. (3) Abel reminds us that “all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution” (2 Timothy 3:12). We know what to expect in the race of faith and nothing takes us by surprise. (4) God will not leave unpunished those who injure or harm the righteous. (5) Seeing Abel’s immortalization in scripture, we can draw comfort and inspiration for our journey even when we face opposition, “For God is not unjust to forget your work and labour of love which you have shown toward His name” (Hebrews 6:10). (6) Our little acts of faith can outlive us and inspire generations yet unborn.

Others Too Have Left Legacies

That Abel’s work of faith continues to be used by God to speak to us even though he himself is dead, is not a standalone incident.

Jesus was in Bethany when a woman came to anoint him with an alabaster flask of very costly fragrant oil, to the indignation of even some of his disciples. Jesus spoke up for her and said, “She has done a good work for Me …  wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her” (Matthew 26: 10-13). That woman is long gone, but, as Jesus promised, the legacy of her faith, love and devotion continues to speak to us even today.

Under instruction from God, the Prophet Jeremiah took the sons of the house of the Rechabites to the house of the LORD and set wine before them to drink, but they declined saying, “We will drink no wine, for Jonadab the son of Rechab, our father, commanded us, saying, ‘You shall drink no wine, you nor your sons, forever’” (Jeremiah 35:6). There you have it — a legacy of teetotalism not just during their father’s lifetime nor a few generations later but forever! That is how to keep speaking even though you may be dead.

A Calling beyond Yourself

Beloved, the path of faith you have been called to walk is bigger than you. Everyone leaves behind a legacy that continues to speak even after they are gone from this life. Your legacy may be what you leave behind as a parent to your children like Jonadab the son of Rechab. He left behind a legacy of total abstinence from alcohol. Today, there are many alcoholics or abusers of various substances who took after their parents. There are husbands who physically abuse their wives or wives who, for lack of physical power, are only able to verbally abuse their husbands; these are things they learnt from their parents. If you are a parent or hope to be one day, you need to decide now what you want your children to remember you for. Or put another way, decide what you would love them to do or not do long after you are gone and that would have come from the indelible lessons you taught them. In many cultures around the world, people are obsessed with having male children who will take after them and keep the legacy of their names. Many people are polygamists for this same reason — the search for a male offspring from another wife or concubine because a first wife didn’t birth a male child. How about a legacy of faith that continues to, like Abel, speak, even when you die and not just the mention of an empty name that inspires no one?

Yours may be in a place of employment; an organization you were tasked with leading such as a student fellowship, union or club; an alumni body; a professional association; a church subgroup or committee, you name it. None of us is anywhere forever; our times will be up and we will have to bow out. When anyone looks at that photo of yours hanging on the wall of that office as a former chief executive, what legacy will come to mind? When your name is mentioned, what memories will it evoke? What will you speak of long after you are gone? A legacy of corruptly enriching yourself; of funds misappropriation; of poor leadership; or of faith in God, backed up by works that continue to inspire those who come after you.

When your name is mentioned, what memories will it evoke? What will you speak of long after you are gone?

The Time Is Now

For Abel, the Bible says, “By faith he still speaks, even though he is dead”. It was the life of faith he lived that still speaks even though he is dead. It is no different for you and me; the time to decide what you will communicate and be remembered for after you are gone is now. What will you be remembered for? Let your faith shine forth. Jesus said, “Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). It is what you do now that will become your legacy when you are gone; it is the life of faith that you live out now that will continue to be an inspiration even when you die. This calls for circumspection in the way our lives are conducted.

The opportunity to decide what your legacy will be is not open-ended. Jesus said, “As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work” (John 9:4). When ‘night’ — the end of opportunity— comes, no man, not even Jesus, can work. Your time is now. Make it count!