Genesis 4:7

"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 for you, but you must master it."

From the day God created man, He has been about the business of watching over us, protecting us, and yes, WARNING us.  His mercy and compassion, right from the get-go, have been constant and steady

In this story we have the origination of sibling rivilary.  Yep, this is where we all get it from, saints.  Cain was the first-born this side of Eden.  The eldest.  The one given all the chores to do.  Then came Abel.  The baby.  "Watch your brother, Cain.  Don't let anything happen to him."  And on and on and on it went.  And they grew up.  Rivals.

You can probably imagine how things went through the years as the boys grew to adulthood.  As Cain matured in years, envy,bitterness and resentment also matured in him, and apparently, this was his nourishment.  He fed on it and permitted it to grow in him.  (we can deduce this by what happened at the end of the story.)

But God was watching, ever vigilant, not wanting harm to come to anyone.  So he talked to Cain, told him He could see what was happening, and he needed to take charge of himself, get a grip on his spirit and watch out for his life.  But Cain decided in favor of self, let his bitterness, envy and rage take charge, and he killed his brother.

And the story has continued to this present moment.  But what has captivated me in this story is the Lord's warning.  Remember the old Lost in Space tv series?  I forget the robots name, but his famous line was "Danger Will Robinson. Danger!! Danger!!"  And that's God's word to us:  DANGER !!!!  The entire Bible screams it out:  "Watch out, child of God, SIN!! SIN!!"  But do we listen?

The mental image I have always had of this verse is that of a hideous little demon, scrunched down against the outside of the house right next to the door, just waiting to leap on me as I come through the door, biting and tearing at me.  "Sin is crouching at your door. . ."  Ravenous little monster.  Never satisfied, never full.  Always attacking, attacking, attacking, wanting more and more of your spirit.

The Lord has commanded us: "but you must master it!"  Who's in charge here, anyways?  TAKE CHARGE over that sin and send it back to hell where it belongs!!!  Just as you have made Jesus Christ Lord and Master over your life, so too must you become lord and master over the sin in your life.   It wants to devour you, but whose child are you, anyways?

Our Lord and Savior loves us so much that he is warning us every step of the way.  But obedience comes so hard to many of us.  Hard-headed, stiff-necked people we are.  Watch out for those imps of gossip, slander, envy, greed, lust, anger, bitterness, unforgiveness.  They are crouching, crouching, ever ready to lunge out at you when you are the least aware.  Be ever so vigilant, saint.  Put your armour on every day.  Be prepared, so that when the powers of hell do strike, they won't find God's temple undefended.

Who is your Master?  From whom do you take your orders?  If there is sin nipping at your heels, lay it on God's altar of mercy and ask forgiveness.  Take charge of your life and master the evil that is trying to ensnare you.  NO ONE is safe from the demons of hell.  Take charge.

Lord Jesus, I want to be holy, as you are holy.  I lay my life before you, I renounce the powers of hell that would hold sway over me.  Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.  Set a guard over my lips, that I would not sin against you with my words.  Seal my mind with your Holy Spirit, that my thought would be pure and blameless.  I lay myself on your altar of mercy.  Cover and protect me and lead me in the path of righteousness for your namesaske.  Amen.