Dead men talking.

There’s a saying that “Dead men tell no tales.”  

But the Bible is known as . . .  the anvil on which many hammers have been broken . . . . for a reason.  

God’s Word often breaks and tosses onto the ash heap, what pride-filled people propose as irrefutable truth. 

So it is that we have this memorable description of Abel in Hebrews 11:4, that “Through Abel’s faith, though he died, still speaks.” 

Remember Abel? He was the younger brother of Cain, and a shepherd, according to Genesis 4. Abel is recorded as bringing an offering to the Lord of the first fruits of his flock. Abel did something unknown by many in this world . . . he gave the best of what he had to God. Hebrews 11:4 tells us that God commended Abel for his gift.

If one were to believe America’s prosperity Gospel, the next thing we should read is that Abel lived a long and affluent life as a reward for his obedience to God. Not. 

Righteous Abel becomes the target of older brother Cain’s anger. Evil appears to be victorious for a moment in a farm field, where Cain stands over the lifeless body of his godly brother Abel. 

And yet, here is God’s word telling us that Abel, “though he died, still speaks.”  Hebrews 11:4

It’s a great lesson for Father’s Day. Abel’s physical life came to a premature end at the hands of his brother. Cain was still breathing. Cain might have lived for another 100 years after his brother. Cain may have climbed Mount Everest six times during his life. His earthly accomplishments, whatever they were. . . are long forgotten.   

It is Abel’s faith and trust in God which still speaks to us this day, and which will never be extinguished. His story and righteous life still speak thousands of years later.

Abel’s not alone. My grandfather, whose family lived in Brazil, has long been gone from the face of the earth. I never met the man. He died long before I was born.  

Conrad Lehenbauer did not have much in the way of possessions when he passed away. In fact, some might say he was dirt poor. After all, he had nine children. What he did leave behind were nine children who carried on his Christian faith. 

I can truthfully say that that the faith in Jesus Christ which first belonged to my grandfather, and then my father, still speaks. That faith and trust in the God of the Bible is my greatest treasure.                                                                                             It provides certain answers to the largest questions in life. It’s Jesus Christ who allows me to lay my head on my pillow at night in peace.     

Abel’s faith . . .my grandfather’s faith . . .my father’s faith in Christ . . . they are still speaking.  They are speaking . . .. not through some voice I hear while walking in the woods . . .or while driving my car.   Their faith is still heard where God says His voice can be plainly heard, in the pages of the Bible.

It’s in that Bible that Abel . . .who lives on . . . points us to Jesus . . . who lives on. 

It is Jesus who walked out of a tomb, single handedly defeating the saying that “Dead men tell no tales.”

 

John Lehenbauer, Pastor

Christ Lutheran Church & School Perry

christlutheranperry

@gmail.com

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