Something we might not notice outright in the account of Cain and his descendents is the loss of the reality of God in their lives.

Matthew Henry summarizes this issue well, saying, “Worldly things are the only things that carnal, wicked people set their hearts upon and are most clever and industrious about. So it was with this race of Cain. Here was a father of shepherds, and a father of musicians, but not a father of the faithful. Here is one to teach about brass and iron, but none to teach the good knowledge of the Lord: here are devices how to be rich, and how to be mighty, and how to be merry; but nothing of God, of his fear and service.”

One of the challenges we face in the world is the constant false reality of a world without God, and with this, a great lack of the knowledge of God, awareness of God, and regard to Him.

Godlessness is the summary of this spiritual issue. And we see the godlessness in Cain continue in his life and that of his descendants. They begin to live out an existence that is separated from God.

What faith does in godliness is work a “seeing” of the invisible God, it works a respect and regard to the God of all creation, and a life lived in the Light of the reality of God. One part of faith is bringing us back to the one true God, and to godliness. Another is bringing us out of all unrighteousness into all goodness. “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men…” (Rom 1:18)

One challenge we can face in the midst of godlessness, is those who profess to regard God and yet are still filled with a spirit of godlessness and unrighteousness. This is very much what you find in Christ’s day among the Pharisees. Faith discerns this false godliness for what it is, seeing its fruit and works. Rather, faith is a true and living knowledge of God, and a humble and pure regard of the Lord. It steps past all godlessness, whether it be the godlessness in the world, like Cain’s descendants, who gave no mind to God, or it is stepping past the false gods of the world, or it is stepping past the idols in the very church carried out in God’s name… God’s call to godliness is to learn a true and humble knowledge of the God of heaven and earth and to treat Him with reverence and respect.

“ …And you have praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood, and stone, which do not see or hear or know, but the God in whose hand is your breath, and whose are all your ways, you have not honored.” (Daniel 5:23)

We live in a world that is constantly turning up false realities of godlessness to us. It’s in all our movies and shows, books, and simply the way so many live. And this false reality is a continual attack against faith in the truth. The great sin and failing of Cain wasn’t just the murder of his brother, but we see the very godlessness playing out in his life that God knew was in his heart, even as he stood face to face with the living God! His godlessness poisoned his descendants after him, and eroded the knowledge of God among them.