Theme: Abel still speaks, and so will you and I
“By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained the testimony that he was righteous, God testifying about his gifts, and through faith, though he is dead, he still speaks.” (Hebrews 11:4)
Thought:
“Dear El,
I suppose you are now back to the old grind again. How was your Christmas vacation? I don’t envy you going to school, but it would be nice to be home once in a while. Say, El, even if that school does get tough, stick with it because it sure pays in the long run. Boy, I know.” (Dec. 29, 1944)
The above is a letter written by my uncle Stan, serving in the Navy, to my dad back home in Turlock, California. Three months later, my uncle was lost at sea, serving in a submarine in WW2. I’ve read this letter several times over the years and wondered what my uncle, whom I am named after, was like. This letter gives me a sense of who he was and of the close friendship he had with my dad. The letter continues to talk about some things my dad and uncle had in common. I appreciate Stan writing this letter. In a sense, when I read it, I can say that he still speaks.
From Hebrews 11:4, I learn two things. First, Abel’s response showed his faith in God by offering the sacrifice He asked for. Second, I learned the importance of writing things down because it outlasts us and encourages others for years.
Turning to Genesis 4, we have the story of Cain and Abel. Here, we read that God did not have regard for Cain’s offering of grain, but God did have regard (accepted) for Abel’s sacrifice of one of the sheep of his flock. It is not clear if it was the type of offering that made one acceptable, in other words, the need for a blood sacrifice. (We see the importance of a blood sacrifice later as a covering for our sin, looking toward the perfect sacrifice of Christ.) It is clear that Abel acted in faith and Cain did not. In Genesis 4:6 & 7, God gives Cain an opportunity to “do well,” but Cain responds instead by killing his brother.
Abel acted in faith, believing what God said. This example shows that obedience to God is an act of faith. It is believing what God says and showing it by one’s actions. Often, we want to decide what we think God wants instead of going to His word and searching to see what God wants.
Cain did not respond in faith, showing this by his “countenance being fallen,” and he still responded wrongly by ignoring God’s rebuke and instructions. Genesis 4:7 talks about the opportunity Cain had to do well, to have his countenance restored, and by faith, he too would have “obtained the testimony that he was righteous.
Another question that arose from Hebrews 11:4 is, if Abel still speaks, what does he say? The answer is his testimony. We have Abel’s recorded actions of a life of faith. Many years later, though Abel is dead, his testimony still speaks to us of his belief in God and some actions in his life that showed that.
What is your testimony? Has your life shown that you believe in God? Have you proclaimed that belief to others that they might remember? That shows the importance of a testimony, both written and recorded, that can be shared verbally, but also of a testimony seen by others.
Peter was asked by Christ in Matthew 16:15, “Who do you say that I am?” Peter answered in the next verse, “You are the Christ, the son of the living God.” Here we have Peter’s recorded testimony that he believed in Christ and God the Father, the living God.
Your testimony will continue to speak even after you die. What will it say? What testimony of your actions and your spoken or written words are you leaving that will either proclaim Christ as the Son of the living God or that you have “exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the creator.” (Romans 1:25)
Reflection:
You will leave a testimony. What will it be? A written testimony would be a wonderful gift to leave for your kids and future generations. Write out your testimony and leave it with your will to pass on to your children and family. Another way to leave a testimony is in notes in your Bible. Several years back, when I officiated the memorial service for an aunt, her family gave me her bible to look at. She had underlined many verses, and the notes she left were a clear testimony of her faith in God.
Abel still speaks, and so will you and I, so write down your testimony or write to someone today.
Prayer:
Father, help me have a humble and teachable spirit to respond correctly to Your instructions. Give me words to write to encourage others. Thank You for the opportunity to proclaim who You are through my testimony and to praise You in that way.
Stan Johnson 5/13/2026
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