I once heard the Holy Spirit speak to me, “you will change the world.” I thought this is not possible.” I asked, “How I was to change the world?” I saw a vision of a large, beautiful lake and then a small pebble dropped into the lake and the ripples spread across the whole lake. Do we understand that our every choice affects others, who affect others, who affect others and on and on it ripples for good or for bad. Such as; someone chooses to drink and drive and hits someone; how many do you think this would affect now? Possibly more than one in the car; the wife, husband, children, parents, grandparents, friends, and then all those connected to those people. What about hateful angry words that we use? The secret we choose to keep? The lies we choose to tell and how easily they spread? I didn’t think about these things until God showed me and even then I didn’t understand or maybe acknowledge just how much I and each of us affect the world and others around us. We are not an island. How will we answer this question? AM I MY BROTHERS KEEPER?
Genesis 4:8-9 Now Cain talked with Able his brother; and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Able his brother and killed him. Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is your brother?” He said, “I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?”
We know God had warned Cain about his anger and that his actions have consequences because God knows all things.
Genesis 4:6-7 So the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen?” If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is to have you, but you should rule over it.”
The actions of Cain rippled through all of history! Cain did pay the consequences but all humanity was affected through his lineage the same as Adam and Eve’s. God is still merciful.
Genesis 4:14-15 Surely You have driven me out this day from the face of the ground; I SHALL BE HIDDEN FROM YOUR FACE; I shall be a vagabond on the earth, and it will happen that anyone finds me will kill me. And the Lord said to him, “Therefore, whoever kills Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him seven fold,” and the Lord set a mark on Cain, lest anyone finding him should kill him.
James 1:19-20 So then, my brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath, for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.
James 2:8 If you really fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you do well.
Romans 13:10 Love does no harm to a neighbor, therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
We make pebble sized choices every day with the words we speak.
