Seems like a strange thing to suggest, but that is precisely what the author of Hebrews says in Hebrews 11:4 (our text for 3/25/12) regarding Abel. The text says: “…And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks.” What does this mean?
Well, we know from the Genesis 4:3-5 passage that after Cain murdered Abel his blood cried out from the ground. This was reflected in this painting by William Blake entitled The Murder of Abel:
In the Genesis passage, what seems to speak through Abel’s death is his blood. His blood is kind of crying out from the ground condemning Cain. So, in Blake’s painting, Cain is running away with his ears covered.
But, in Hebrews 11:4, something else is speaking: Abel’s faith. It was “By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks.” The body they may kill, God’s truth abideth still (said Luther). Even though Abel was slain, his faith stood firm and continued to speak.
What does your faith speak? Does your faith reflect a heart of worship to God? Is God commending your faith because of how you relate to Him? These are some of the themes we will look at this coming Lord’s Day. Join us.