515. J.O. Smith’s Last Message

“Our common salvation”—this is the forgiveness of sins. However, when Jude wrote this, he found it necessary to remind them to contend earnestly for the faith which was delivered to the saints. We need to be aware of the forces against which we are fighting.

“Woe to them! For they have gone in the way of Cain, have run greedily in the error of Balaam for profit, and perished in the rebellion of Korah.” Verse 11.

It is amazing to see that as soon as God’s light is revealed to a person, he meets men who are envious. This is the way of Cain. Remember how Cain and Abel brought offerings to the Lord, and how the Lord respected Abel and his offering. This caused Cain to hate him, so that he killed his own brother. This was the beginning of the way of Cain.

We can consider the story of Joseph. In his dreams he received revelations about things to come. God was with him and gave him light. That is why his brothers called him “the dreamer,” and they also said, “Let us now kill him.” But Judah stepped forward and proposed that they sell him into Egypt as a slave, thus saving his life. Therefore, God’s blessing came over Judah and his descendants. The way of Cain persecuted Joseph even to Potiphar’s house and into prison. He encountered envious men everywhere he went, but his dreams were fulfilled, for the Lord was with him, and His blessing rested upon him.

We can also read about Moses when he was confronted by Korah and his men. They were on the way of Cain and were full of envy. Their envy drove them to rebellion, and they said, “Are Moses and Aaron above us? He has appointed himself as ruler over us.” How should we respond to something like this? Moses was only an instrument whom God used in His work. We can’t help it if God uses us. The blessing of the Lord was upon Moses, but Korah and all his house were swallowed up by the earth and went down alive into the pit. It is nothing but the way of Cain that incites such people to rebel.

Finally, we also have the error of Balaam. There are many preachers who started out in a good way and had good things to say, but they forsook the right way by succumbing to dishonest gain and entered the way of Cain. They began to harbor envy because of a love for gain. The way of Cain is envy, but Balaam loved money, and that is why he went astray.

Daniel also encountered envious men who were going on the way of Cain. They threw him into the lions’ den and wanted to kill him, but the Lord saved him and placed him above all those envious men. It never pays to go the way of Cain.

Jesus was also crucified because of envy. The men who crucified Jesus did not stop at anything. Even after He was buried, they came and rolled a huge stone in front of the tomb and sealed it. They went the way of Cain.

I especially want to impress upon everyone’s heart to beware of the enemies in our flesh. We must take care of the “Urim and Thummim” we have received, which is light and perfection. This is where the anointing and the prophetic Word can be found. For the way of Cain runs right beside us, and we must take great care to shun it. We must hide the prophetic Word in our heart, and then God’s blessing will follow us.