“By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks” (Hebrews 11:4).
Since faith comes by hearing and obeying God’s word (Romans 10:17) and by faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice, Abel’s sacrifice was done in obedience to God’s word.
Since the just shall live by his faith (Habakkuk 2:4) and Abel offered his sacrifice to God by faith, Abel was a righteous man.
The faith of Abel—though the oldest example in human history—has much to tell this (and every) generation:
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Worship matters to God. Not all acts of worship offered to God are pleasing to Him. To know which actions are, we must learn what God wants in worship, then carefully and precisely obey Him. Abel did, and the Lord respected him and his offering (Genesis 4:5). Cain did not, and Jehovah did not respect him and his offering (Genesis 4:6).
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Worship is essential to being righteous. Worshiping by faith is one necessary facet of living righteously. One clear proof of Abel’s righteous life was his worship. God’s timeless testimony on this is plain.
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A righteous life is never forgotten by God. Abel’s death is the first recorded one in human history. He has been dead and gone longer than any other person, yet God has not forgotten him. If God has not forgotten him, He has not forgotten any righteous person who has died after he did.
Though he is dead Abel’s faith still has much to say to us.
