We live in a materialistic age. The increase of scientific and technological information magnifies the material world as being the only true world. It seems archaeologists and anthropologists are constantly coming up with fossil remains older than those already known.

The hypothesis of evolution is accepted by the majority as though it were a proven fact. It appears people do not want to believe there is a God. This bias probably is due to the concern that we will be held accountable for our behavior after we die. Such a concern is repugnant and frightening to those who wish to live in immorality. How could we otherwise account for the fact that intelligent people can observe the order of the created universe and then believe there is no God?

Yet we know mass is a form of energy and its appearance of size and weight is only the characteristic of molecules. In other words, the physical world is an illusion. It has no genuine reality. We do not actually "see" or "hear" anything. Seeing and hearing are phenomena associated with the nervous system. But, as every experienced saint knows, there are such things as actually seeing and hearing in the spirit realm.

The heavens declare the Glory of God for He brought them forth by His Word. God is real and the spirit world is real, and these are the source of the material world. Faith informs us of this.

To look at the starry heavens and say there is no God; to see the order of nature and the physical world and say there is no God; to study the history and present personalities and behavior of human beings and animals and say there is no God: such intellectual positions cause us to wonder at the individual's sincerity!

The true world is the invisible spirit world. It is noteworthy that in numerous instances educated people are turning to metaphysical principles and spirit guides to help them through life. Thus they are not even true to their own profession of agnosticism. They are willing to live with such inconsistency. They choose to live in their pride rather than by humble faith in God.

By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead. (Hebrews 11:4—NIV)

When God wishes to teach us concerning the meaning of "the just shall live by faith" He begins with the first man born on the earth. God spoke well of Abel's offerings because Abel had faith. Any offering we make to God must be given in faith or it does not please God. Abel still speaks to us. Every true witness of God speaks eternally.

God did not honor Cain's offering for the reason that Cain's heart was not in his religious service. He did not have faith in God, he just went through the motions.

Bitterness, envy, slander, and strife abound in the Evangelical churches. The believers must be taught that God is not accepting their worship. They may be accurate in their doctrine concerning Jesus Christ, but, as in the case of Cain, God is not pleased with them. They do not have the kind of faith that brings justification, although they may have been told they do.

To be continued.