In the end, Only the Godly Will win

This episode compares the outcome of the ungodly with the Godly

Transcript

                                   In the End, Only the Godly Will Win

In the fourth chapter of the Book of Genesis, we find the account of the first murder after the fall of man.    Cain became angry when God accepted the sacrifice of Abel but was less pleased with Cain's sacrifice.  As a result of the murder, Cain was punished by God.  God declared to Cain that the earth would no longer yield unto him its strength and He was made a fugitive and a vagabond.  Genesis 4:12 states:

12 When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth.

Cain responded in Gen. 4:13 with these words:

“My punishment is greater than I can bear.”

God, in His infinite mercy, put a mark upon Cain so that anyone finding him should not kill him without severe repercussions.

And the Lord said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the Lord set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him (Genesis 4:15).  

Following God’s judgment, Cain went out from the presence of God.  Life in the Spirit Bible’s Commentary, page 15, states that Cain and his descendants were the pioneers of human civilization estranged from God, and were therefore the first humanistic society.  According to the commentary, the “basis of any humanistic society is to overcome the curse, find pleasure and regain paradise without God.”   “The world’s system, in its revolt against God, is founded upon the principle of self-redemption for the human race.” This describes the attitude and way of life for the majority of the ungodly today.

The ungodly family of Cain developed and centered itself around the secular arts and business, establishing a way of self-reliance.  It is no surprise that we find those same behaviors among many ungodly people in today's world. The sad truth  is, self-reliance will never lead the ungodly to salvation.  Those who reject God and His Son Jesus Christ will suffer the consequences of Hell and the Lake of Fire because Jesus Christ is the only route to eternal life and peace with Almighty God.  In the end, the ungodly will never win and all that they accomplish with come to naught.

Just as there were multitudes of ungodly men upon the face of the earth following the fall of man, fortunately there were also a few godly men in this time period.  The Bible refers to only four men as godly, Abel, Seth, Enoch and Noah, between the creation of Adam and the time in which God repented that He even made man.  Though the number of godly men were few, God was able to accomplish His purpose through them.  God will always have a remnant of godly men. In Ezekiel 6:8 God said, 

Yet will I leave a remnant, that ye may have some that shall escape the sword among the nations, when ye shall be scattered through the countries.

Also, when Elijah hid himself in a cave from Queen Jezebel, fearing  for his life and supposing that he was the only man that God had left that worshipped him, God said , in 1 Kings 19:18: Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.

After Abel was killed, came Seth, the third child born to Adam and Eve.  Eve saw him as a son given to her as a substitute for her righteous and murdered son, Abel.

And Adam knew his wife again; and she bare a son, and called his name Seth: For God, said she, hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew (Gen. 4:25).

Seth bore a son whose name was Enos.  The Bible tells us that after the birth of Enos, men began to call upon the name of the Lord.

26 And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: then began men to call upon the name of the Lord (Gen. 4:26).

Enos was the ancestor of Enoch, who was a such a godly man that God took him to Heaven without his seeing death.

24 And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him (Gen. 5:24). 

He was a man who pleased God.

5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God (Hebrews 11:5.)

Enoch was the perfect example for those of us who strive to be godly men and women.  He lived by faith in God, trusted in God’s Word and in His promises.  He endeavored to live a holy life, embraced God’s ways and he stood firmly against the ungodliness of his generation.  We too, should walk with God in true holiness and speak loudly and strongly against sin.  We should warn men and women of the wrath to come upon those who live ungodly lives.

The fourth man that the Bible refers to as a godly man prior to the Flood was Noah. In the sixth chapter of Genesis, verses 6-9 God was angry with the evil and violent status of mankind.

6 And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. 

7 And the Lord said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.

8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.

9 These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.

God's anger with mankind's ungodliness was so severe that it resulted in what is known as The Flood.  God flooded the world, destroying all living creatures with the exception of eight human beings and animals called to replenish the earth.

Noah, his wife, his children and their wives were spared from the destruction of the earth by the Flood because Noah was a godly man.  It was through him that God was able to restore life on earth, making him the ancestor of all people today.  Unfortunately, not even this godly man was able to convince people outside of his immediate seven family members to be saved by getting into the Ark.  Although Noah had no natural people outside of his family to keep him encouraged, he trusted God.

Noah was obedient to God and did everything that God told him to do.  He was told to build the Ark and cover it inside and outside with pitch and he did it.  He was told to accept the land animals that showed up on their own and admit them into the Ark.  He allowed them to enter the Ark.  He was told when he and his family were to enter the Ark and when they were to exit it.  Noah obeyed God to the letter and, as a result of his obedience, we, along with all land animals, are here today.

Noah was a preacher of the gospel, but, just like Isaiah and Jeremiah, he had no fruit.  In spite of that, he continued to obey God.  He did not allow himself to become discouraged,  he just kept working.  We can only imagine how Noah must have been ridiculed by his contemporaries.  Yet, in spite of all that he went through, Noah was a perfect example of how we who live godly should be today.  The Bible tells us that if we live godly, we should expect to be persecuted.

12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution (2 Tim. 3:12.)

It does not matter that others may not believe us when we preach the truth.  We must continue to do so.  Even though the enemy may try to make us believe that our gospel message is worthless, we must preach the truth anyway.  Although we may never see the results of our lifelong work, we must continue to do the work we were called to do.  We have no way of knowing the full impact or the outcome of what we do in obedience to God, but we must continue in faith and work diligently.  Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, promised us many wonderful blessings if we are faithful and work diligently in obedience to His commands.  He said in John 14:15:

15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.

Jesus has prepared a place for us in Heaven that is so beautiful that we cannot even imagine it.  1 Corinthians 2:9 states:

But as it is written: Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.

This and many other great and wonderful promises are available to the Saints of God who are the righteous men and women.  We must choose to live holy lives, continue to trust in Jesus,  and hold on to His promises until the end.  The godly men of old, Abel, Seth, Enoch, and Noah are wonderful examples of perseverance in all situations.  Abel was murdered because his sacrifices pleased God, but ultimately He won.  Seth was God's replacement to his parents in the loss of a holy son.  He won.  Enoch walked with God and was taken into Heaven without dying.  What a winner he was.  God was able to use Noah as the ancestor of all generations today, making Noah a winner.  Just as our ancient holy forefathers were winners, we too can be winners. We attain the victory and become winners when we yield our will and our lives to the Lord.  We will gain eternal life and live with our Heavenly Father if we faint not.  Let us always remember that in the end, only the godly will win.