However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural; then the spiritual. – 1 Corinthians 15:46
There is an undeniable pattern that runs consistently throughout the history of mankind. It can be found all through the Bible in the stories of Ishmael and Isaac, Esau and Jacob, Saul and Paul, the two Abraham’s, the two Adams and, of course, Cain and Abel. It’s the age old struggle between good and evil; more specifically, the fight between the spirit man and the flesh man.
Our latest video, My Brother’s Keeper, portrays the timeless tale of Cain and Abel, a story which perfectly highlights the strife between the first and the second born. Cain was a ’tiller of the ground’, a crop farmer, whereas his brother, Abel, was a shepherd. God accepts and appreciates Abel’s offering but rejects Cain’s. Although God warns Cain of the dangers of sin and the malice growing in his heart towards his brother, Cain is unable to overcome his desire to kill Abel.
The story of Cain and Abel is still very relevant for us today. The two characters define the two very different classes of man in the world – the carnal and the spiritual. The word “carnal” finds its root meaning in the word “flesh”, relating to things that are worldly and sinful. Like in this story, the spirit and the body (the carnal, the flesh) are two ‘brothers’, one from the ground and one of the spirit. God cannot accept the offerings we make in the sin-contaminated, but accepts, loves and appreciates the Spirit man. And the carnal man wants to destroy the spirit man within you.
My Brother’s Keeper is an arty representation of Cain and Abel and illustrates the story by presenting sin as a physical entity, which is seeking to manipulate and influence Cain (the flesh man). The heavier Cain’s heart becomes with hate, the more visibly sin appears, until it finally overshadows and overcomes him completely.
While the video might prove frightening for some, it was created to bring awareness around this very complex struggle. Sin never looks pretty. Not to the spirit man in each of us – and certainly not to God.
Then the LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? 7 If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.” – Genesis 4:6-7