Two Sons and Two Seeds

That means y'all got to listen to me sooner. Everybody's like, "Oh no, we've only had special music." Has to wait until next week, I reckon.

All right, guys, we are going to be continuing our journey through Genesis. We're in Genesis chapter 4, looking at verses 16 through 26. I know it's Mother's Day, and we thank you so much for being here. I had prayed about doing a Mother's Day message, but the Lord is having us continue through Genesis. However, there will be some motherly applications in our text, and we will make note of those when we come to them.

One particular application I can think of is over in chapter 3, verse 20, where Adam names his wife Eve. Because Eve would be the mother of all living. So even in Eve’s name, there’s this messianic expectation. There’s this hope that through Eve, the mother of all living, will come the Messiah. Somewhere along the line in her lineage, in her descendants, there’s going to be the one who is going to come and redeem Adam’s race, who’s going to reverse the curse of sin.

We're going to talk about that. We're going to talk a little bit about this lineage, this seed of the woman that was promised in Genesis 3:15. The title of my sermon this morning is "Two Sons and Two Seeds."

Now, both sons come from Eve. Both seeds trace their lineage from her. But one will be a godly seed. One will be an ungodly seed. One will be the seed of the woman. The other will be the seed of the serpent. And by tracing these genealogies of the two sons, we're going to see God's sovereign hand at work in human history. So despite the sin and rebellion of man, God is faithfully preparing a righteous lineage through which the promised seed of the woman will come. And he will come through the line of a man named Seth. So in this passage, we see God orchestrating times, events, and peoples to ultimately bring forth the Savior of mankind at the appointed time.

So, to set the stage briefly, over the next five and a half chapters—spanning 140 verses—Moses records history between the fall and the flood, a period of approximately 1,500 years. Covering such a vast span in five and a half chapters—that’s a lot of ground to cover, isn’t it? Thankfully, Moses wasn’t long-winded—unlike me. He condenses a vast span of time into five and a half concise chapters.

But let's get to reading Genesis chapter 4, beginning in verse 16. "Then Cain went out from the presence of the Lord, and dwelt in the land of Nod, east of Eden." Remember what had just occurred. He had killed his brother Abel. Now he wanders from the presence of the Lord. He runs into the land of Nod. Nod means the land of exile, or the land of wandering. It's east of Eden.

"And Cain knew his wife, and she conceived and bore Enoch. And he built a city and called the name of the city after his son, Enoch. Enoch was born to Irad. And Irad begot Mahuahel. And Mahuahel begot Methushahel. And Methushahel begot Lamech. And Lamech took for himself two wives. The name of one was Adah. And the name of the second was Zillah. And Adah bore Jabal. And he was the father of those who dwell in tents and have livestock. And his brother's name was Jubal. He was the father of those who play the harp and flute. And as for Zillah, she also bore Tubal-Cain, an instructor of every craftsman in bronze and iron. And the sister of Tubal-Cain was Nammah."

"Then Lamech said to his wives, Adah and Zillah, 'Hear my voice, wives of Lamech, and listen to my speech. For I have killed a man for wounding me, even a young man for hurting me. If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, then Lamech seventy-sevenfold.'"

"And Adam knew his wife. She bore a son and named him Seth. For God had appointed another seed for me instead of Abel, whom Cain killed. And Seth also had a son, whom he named Enosh. Then men began to call on the name of the Lord."

We won't get into chapter five this week. That will be for next week. But just to give you a brief introduction to that chapter: Enosh has a son named Canaan. And Canaan begets more children. And eventually a man named Enoch is born. And the Bible records that Enoch walked with God. And Enoch was not taken by death, but by God. Enoch cheated death because God raptured him to heaven. And then we read about a man named Methuselah. What's so important about Methuselah? Anyone know? Anyone remember? Old man, wasn't he? He was the longest-living human on record. And he had a son named Lamech. And Lamech had a son named, you might know him, Noah. And Noah built the ark. And he was the savior of humanity.

So we have chapter four, the line of Cain. It is dark, gloomy, sinful, and rebellious. It looks like despair is setting in. But here comes the end of the chapter. Praise God! God is not done with the story, right? Here comes a second son. And with Seth comes a new beginning, a new hope. So we're going to look this morning at the children of Cain.

But let's introduce genealogy. So in this scripture and those in the coming weeks, we're going to study these two sons, Cain and Seth. It's the tale of two sons. It's also the tale of two seeds. Remember, one represents the seed of the serpent in wickedness. The other, the seed of the woman. And these two seeds, they run parallel with each other throughout scripture. From Genesis to Revelation, we can trace these two seeds. We're also introduced to two cities. One is the city of man, built upon pride and filled with violence and vice. And the other is the city of God, which is characterized by humility and righteousness and is populated by people like Enoch, who walked with God in the midst of a sinful society. We also are introduced to two families, two distinct people groups, two lineages, two children: the children of Cain, the children of Seth, the children of Satan, and the children of God.

But I want to ask you one question this morning. Why all these names? Why on earth are all these names in Scripture? Now, when we come to the genealogies in our yearly Bible reading, let's be honest. Most of us aren't thrilled to be there. It's like trudging through Leviticus, right? "Y'all offer this sacrifice and that sacrifice." Well, the genealogies are kind of the same. "This one begat this one, and this one begat this one, and this one lived for so many years and died." It's like, "Lord, I know I love the Bible, but this is boring as all get out." Right? Raise both hands. Don't you lie. You're in church, you know you've had that same thought. You're like, "What on earth is the purpose of all these? All of these names, these long lists of people who lived thousands of years ago. What on earth does this have to do with my life here and now?" Glad you asked. Glad you asked.

We better get used to genealogies, by the way, because this is the first of 25 lists in scripture of begats and begotten. And just in case you critique my pronunciation of some of these names, you're more than welcome to take a stab at it yourself. Believe me, I'm not a scholar on this.

But we're going to talk about these generations. Scholars say that these generations in Hebrew are called Toledot. So when you get to a Toledot or a generation, they serve as chapter headings, dividing the book into sections. And they show us how the story of redemption unfolds throughout scripture. So we have the generations of Adam, from Adam to Noah, from Noah to Abraham, and eventually from Abraham to David. And from David to Jesus Christ. What is it doing? It's tracing the story of God's plan of salvation from Genesis to the arrival of Jesus Christ. And by the way, behind each name is a thread in the tapestry of God's sovereign plan.

So genealogies provide an accurate account of biblical history. Genealogies show that events in scripture happen to real people. Can you believe it? Not bedtime stories, not fairy tales—real people, in real space-time history.

More than that, genealogies reveal God's covenant faithfulness. Throughout these records, God is seen time and time again keeping his promises, preserving his people, protecting them from those who want to annihilate them. These genealogies give us a wide-angle lens through which to view the history of redemption. Because it is history. And all history is his story. Right? It's all his story. And as we read through these names and generations, we're not just seeing a list. We're seeing the sovereign hand of almighty God at work.

Genealogies also show God's attention to detail and his deep care for his people. I mean, think about it. These are not just meaningless names. These are names of people who matter to God—people he loves, people who are precious to him, who have been chosen and redeemed by him. These genealogies prove that God forgets nothing and no one. So just in case you think your life is just a name in an endless genealogy somewhere, you're wrong. God knows your name, knows you personally, and loves you individually and particularly. And he sent his son to die for you and to be your savior. You're not just a name. You're not just a number. And you will never ever be forgotten or overlooked by God.

Furthermore, believers, we have our names written in a book as well—the Lamb's Book of Life. And the Bible teaches that they have been there since before creation. God chose you. He set his love upon you. He sent his son to redeem you. Your name is engraven upon his heart, in his hands, and in his book. And you are a citizen of heaven if you are a believer in Jesus Christ. You are united with the Messiah by faith. And you too are part of the lineage of Christ. You are members of God's family.

And most importantly, these genealogies record the lineage of Jesus Christ. This is Jesus’ family tree when we reach chapter 5 and encounter the line of Seth. How do we know? The same genealogies in Matthew 1 and Luke 3 record these same people. This is Jesus. This is Jesus’ family tree. That’s why this genealogy holds such significance. So whether Old Testament saints looking forward to Jesus’ coming or New Testament saints reflecting on his arrival, we’re always looking to Jesus. These genealogies point us to Christ.

So let's point out these two families and the similarities and the contrast between them. Both genealogies trace multiple generations from Adam, the father of us all. It's important to note also that these two genealogies have similar names. You may have noticed. Both include Enoch and Lamech. But one is genuine. The other is counterfeit. This is no coincidence; Satan always has a counterfeit, doesn't he? He's a copycat. He can create nothing—only cheap imitations of what is real. Satan has a false Christ, a false church, a false religion, and false truth.

Also, Cain's genealogy lists seven generations. But Seth, as we'll see next week, contains ten. And Cain's descendants are praised for their earthly achievements—livestock, music, and metallurgy. But if you notice, we're told nothing of their lifespan or their death. Do you realize that? We're not told how they lived, how long they lived, or when they died. They lived only for life on this earth. And their legacy ends here. In contrast, Seth's line represents a spiritual legacy. God takes note of their birth, of how long they live, and of when they die. Why is that? Because the line of Seth did not just live for this earth. They lived for the life to come. Their lives mattered to heaven. They walked with God and they pleased him. And when they died, they are remembered by heaven. As the scripture says, "precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints." Heaven honors those whom society overlooks. Cain's descendants disappear into obscurity. Most of us probably couldn't tell you who the son of Cain was unless we read it this morning. Why? Nobody really cares. They just disappear into obscurity. Their story serves only as a warning, an example of a godless society bent on pride and violence and self-glory. They may have gained the applause of men, but friends, they lost the applause and the approval of heaven. Their names endured not just in scripture, but in glory. That is the line of Seth. They lived for heaven. Seth's line endures in scripture and in glory.

But also, what's striking is how the seventh generation in each line serves as a representative of their entire family, their entire family's legacy. In Cain's line, we meet this man named Lamech, and we'll talk more about him in just a minute. He's a boastful, violent man. But in Seth's line, we meet the seventh son, and his name is Enoch, and Enoch walks with God. One lives for self, the other lives with God.

Also, both genealogies end with a trio of sons. Lamech has three sons: Jubal, Jabal, and Tubal-Cain. Noah, on the other hand, has three sons—Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Cain’s family ends in judgment, wiped out by the flood. The other is preserved by grace and starts a new life.

So very quickly, let's recap. Cain's line, they leave an ungodly legacy. They're marked by violence and rebellion, while Seth's line leaves a godly legacy. Cain's line builds the city of man. Seth's line is the people of God. In Cain's line, there's no lifespan. There's no mention of their death. But in Seth's line, both their birth, life, and death are recorded with care. One line, the line of Cain, is forgotten by history, leaving an earthly legacy only. But Seth's line is remembered by heaven, and they leave an eternal legacy.

Here's the point of application. We have two lives, two legacies, but one question. Cain and Seth left vastly different legacies. But did you know that each one of us is going to leave a legacy? In fact, we are writing our story right here, right now. So here is the question: What kind of legacy will you leave behind? What type of legacy will you leave behind? How will others remember you? Who did you live for? Whose kingdom did you build? Who did you love and obey? We're writing our own legacy now. And our lives shape our legacy. But our legacy also shapes our lineage. Cain was an ungodly man, and he begat more ungodly men who followed his godless example. Seth was a godly man, and he begat more godly men. What does that tell us? Parents, mothers, fathers, children will follow in your footsteps. Your lives are shaping your legacy, and your legacy will shape your lineage. So be careful how you walk, because there's little feet walking behind you. Make sure you are following Christ. Ensure the path leads to heaven, and leave an eternal legacy. Let it be said of every one of us: they loved Christ with all of their heart, mind, soul, and strength. They gave their selves, totally, and wholly, to build his kingdom. They belong to the family of God.

Very quickly this morning, we're going to look at each name. Let's look at the family of Cain. Let's look at Enoch. We read that Cain leaves Eden. He journeys east to the land of Nod, which means, anyone remember? Wandering, right? Wandering in exile. This farmer, he becomes a builder. His decision to kill his brother didn't just affect his relationship with God, it changed everything about him, including his occupation. The ground was cursed. He couldn't farm anymore. So now, what does he do? He starts to build cities. The country boy becomes a city boy. And he builds the first city mentioned in scripture, and he names it after his son, Enoch. Don't be confused. This is not the godly Enoch, who walked with God from Seth's line.

Now, Enoch's name, if you want to write this down, can mean dedicated, or inaugurated. Dedicated or inaugurated. So what is Cain doing? He's building a city, and he's dedicating it to his own greatness. Even in exile, Cain's still the same prideful man. He's exalting his name through his son, and through his city. See, he never repents. He builds a city, the city of man, not the city of God. He wants to establish his own legacy, and he wants it to be a kingdom apart from God. Cain is arrogant. He's prideful. He never once shows true humility or repentance. His life is the pursuit of a legacy, but it's one not rooted in God, but in his own power and success. And his identity is wrapped up in what he achieves, not in who he is before God. Cain attempts to build significance through accomplishments for his family. Rather than surrendering to God's purpose, he builds the first city of man, and he said, "I'm the king of this city. I am ruler of my own life. This is my kingdom, and I am king." He cares nothing for the kingdom of God. He attempts to gain power and prestige and permanence apart from God. And it's the beginning of a long pattern of man trying to build his own kingdom here on the earth without submission to the king of heaven. And many people still today are trying to find their purpose, power, and prestige and permanence here on the earth, and taking no thought about the kingdom of heaven. So Cain's family shows a deep indifference to the person of God.

It starts with Cain himself. So after being exiled, Cain deliberately moves where? East of Eden, as far away from the garden paradise as he possibly can get. He hates God. He would have killed God if he could, but he can't. So what does he do? He kills his brother instead, and then he becomes a fugitive, a vagabond upon the earth. He wanders. He also shows indifference to the paradise of God. If he can't have God's garden, he will build his own version of paradise on the earth. He will build his own city, and he will fill it with luxury and comfort and every earthly amenity he can imagine. He resists the fact that God told him life is brief. He resists the fact that this earth is not our eternal home. And he tries to plant himself permanently here, putting roots down on this earth, acting as if he will live forever. You know anyone like that? Trying to build their own kingdom here on the earth? Why is mankind so infatuated with having the nicest house and the nicest yard and the thickest bank account? It's because they're trying to build Eden again. They're trying to find success and purpose and identity and wholeness here on the earth, but totally apart from God. He's trying to create his own heaven on earth, but he does not want God to be there. He's seeking security, identity, and legacy in what he can build, rather than the one who builds all things. He refuses to settle down.

But then we find the line of Seth in chapter 5. There is no record of any of these men ever building a city. And it continues throughout the patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Guess where they lived? In tents. Traveling from place to place. Why? Because they knew their pilgrims and strangers here. Here they have no continuing city. Rather, they're looking for one to come. They're looking for a city that has foundations, whose builder and maker is God, Hebrews 11:10 tells us. Therefore, believers, don't let your roots grow too deep here. Remember, you're only passing through. Enjoy this life, yes. Make the most of it. But remember, you belong to an eternal kingdom. You belong to an eternal, unshakable, unending kingdom. And our kingdom is the Lord Jesus Christ. And our home is the place in heaven He has prepared for us. So live with eternity in mind. So let me ask you, friends. What city are you building? Which kingdom are you living for?

Very quickly, let's look at three more guys. We have Irad, and Mehuahel, and Methushahel. Cain's indifference to God eventually gave way to independence from God. And this independence was unchecked and grew into open antagonism. Now, as we walk through this genealogy of Cain, we'll notice something striking, at least it was to me, and that is that many of Cain's descendants bear the name of God. It has the words El or Yah, as we'll see. El meaning God, Yah meaning Jehovah. So they have God's name buried in their own name. Don't be mistaken, this is no sign of genuine devotion to God. These names reflect a casual, flippant, even hypocritical use of God's name. It's not reverence for God, it's simply dead religion. It's a form of godliness, but it's denying the power thereof. It is as Jesus told the Pharisees, they were whitewashed tombs. They looked good on the outside, but on the inside, they were full of dead men's bones. Yeah, they put up the religious facade, but they were hypocrites. They had no new life. They were unregenerate, yet religious. These men have no love for God, no pursuit of righteousness. The name of God is on their lips, but their heart is far from Him. And their very lives mock the holiness and the greatness of God.

Let me tell you, all religion, apart from true religion and undefiled religion, apart from faith in Christ, is a mockery of the greatness of God. Your version of God is not the God of the Bible. The only religion God will accept is Jesus Christ. The only righteousness God will accept is the righteousness of Jesus Christ. We're saved only by grace through faith in Christ alone. Every other religion of man is a mockery of the greatness of God.

Now let's look at their names. Irad. Irad means wild donkey or restless fugitive. It is a fitting name for a man who is untamed, unrepentant, and independent—a man who lives only for himself. Irad is the man who says, "I'm free to make my own decisions. I will live my life my way, and no God is going to tell me what to do."

We get to Mehuahel, and his name can mean smitten of God or blot out that Yahweh is God. In other words, "I reject that Yahweh, Jehovah, is the true God. I will create my own god tailored to my own preferences." His name speaks of the rejection and resentment of the divine authority of God.

Then we have Methushahel, whose name means man of God, or man who desires death by God. So this man is hostile. He has a violent relationship with God. This is a godless lineage, one that acknowledges God in name only, but they deny Him in their word, heart, and action. They're like many people in our own time, as Paul wrote in Romans 1:21, they're unthankful, they're unholy, they're unwilling to glorify God as God, and they refuse to acknowledge Him as Creator and Lord.

Look at this man, Lamech. Spend just a few moments on him. This man, Lamech. His life shows us that this time, this age of Cain, was a time of militant defiance. Here comes the seventh generation from Cain: Lamech. And his name means powerful, or conqueror. A fitting name. By the way, he becomes the second murderer in the Bible. And we're only four chapters in. It didn't take long for sin to take effect, did it? Just as Enoch the seventh from Seth represents godly legacy, Lamech represents the full corruption of Cain's line. He's violent. He's vengeful. He's lawless. And by the way, I believe he is a fitting prototype of the man of lawlessness who is to come. An Antichrist figure of history. So rather than submit to God's justice, Lamech takes the law into his own hands. And he kills a man, likely a young warrior, for merely wounding him. Now, can we say that the punishment outweighed the crime? He said, "This young man wounded me, I'm going to kill him." He takes the law into his own hands. And then, he sings about it. By the way, this is the first song recorded in scripture. And it is known as the song of the sword. But instead of it being a hymn of worship to God, it is a song of defiance. He says, "If Cain is avenged sevenfold, then Lamech will be avenged seventy-sevenfold." "I'm going to take it to the extreme. You thought Cain was bad? Watch out. I'm a badder man than him. I will do whatever I want, whenever I want, to whomever I want. I am a law unto myself."

Lamech set himself up as the new standard of justice. And he refused to submit to God's law. Does that not echo modern man's rebellion to God's law? I believe it does. Also, I think it shows man's godless autonomy. I want to live life apart from God. I want to set the rules. I want to do what I want. It's interesting that in Matthew, in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus calls us to love our enemies. Bless those who curse us. Then in Matthew 18:22, Jesus tells us also to love our enemies and to forgive, not seven times, but seventy times seven. What's he doing? He's throwing this song of Lamech on its head and doing a quick uno-reverse. Saying instead of getting back, instead of being a man of vengeance, like Lamech, I want you to forgive to the superlative degree. So maybe there's someone in your life that you need to forgive. Maybe you have a heart of rage and vengeance, like Lamech, and you say, "I want to get back at that person. If Cain's going to be avenged seven times, let me be avenged seventy times seven." The Lord says, "No, you forgive seventy times seven." You forgive without limit, without end.

Lamech surrounded himself with a lifestyle of violence, as well as one of indulgence and lust, in an era marked by moral disorder. He also represents the corruption of God's design for marriage, being the first recorded polygamist. Taking two wives—Adah and Zillah—he departs from God’s intended monogamous union of one man and one woman.

Now let's look at these wives and what their names mean. Adah, her name means ornament or adornment, and Zillah means seductress. So these are two, what he thinks, are smoking hot women. He's like, "You know what? These women are mine, and I'm not just going to have one, but I'll have two. I don't care what God told Adam in the garden. I don't care what God's plan for marriage and sexuality is. I'll redefine it according to my preference." These two women, Adah and Zillah, they represent an emphasis on external beauty, clothing, ornamentation, extravagance, and even sensuality and lust. But what these women lacked was true inner beauty. Remember we read Peter earlier? True beauty is not the outward adornment of wearing clothes and jewelry, but the hidden person of the heart. That is a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God. And while external beauty is not the adornment, and while external looks may decay with age, that internal beauty just gets better and better with age. Biblical womanhood, mothers, is marked by modesty and godliness and self-control and keeping your heart and your body for your husband and your husband alone. It goes deeper than superficial beauty and sensuality. It's the inner self, which is made more beautiful and more godly the longer you walk with Christ.

The time of Lamech was also a time of marvelous discovery. We're going to end by looking at Lamech's three sons, Jubal, Jabal, and Tubal-Cain. Now these three sons, they were industrious. They were innovators, thinkers. They were entrepreneurs. They demonstrated great power in production and creativity. But friends, their inventions ultimately proved futile and gave life true purpose and meaning.

Now Jabal was the father of those who live in tents and have livestock. He was the pioneer of the nomadic ranching lifestyle. He dissociated from the city of Enoch and moved into the pasture lands. Interestingly enough, the Hebrew word for livestock also means possessions or wealth. It is likely that this man Jabal was a man of great material success. He dominated this new industry, building an empire through animal husbandry. So think about it: if you wanted meat, leather goods, or other animal products, who would you turn to? Jabal. He was a businessman, productive, enterprising, and lucrative in his dealings—an expert in marketing.

But then we have his brother, Jubal. And he's the father of those who play music. He was an expert and likely a skilled musician himself. Perhaps he was the first composer in human history. Isn't it interesting to think about? And it's true. And it's through Jubal that music entered human culture in an organized and creative form. He pioneered the use of music in culture. He begins to develop musical instruments. And fittingly, his name means "sound" or "jubilation." And that suggests joy and festivity that his music brought. But while his talents were no doubt impressive, they were used in a society that had long drifted from God. His music was not for worship, but for entertainment. Much like the soundtrack of our culture today, where talented men and women use their God-given talents to exalt themselves and promote sin and sensuality.

Then we have the last man, Tubal-Cain. Kind of a weird name, but his name means "from Cain." And he's the forger of all kinds of tools and weapons made from bronze and iron. So he's a master craftsman. And he's an expert in metallurgy. We could say he's the first blacksmith in history. And think about this. His knowledge in smelting and forging and crafting made him a very powerful and influential man in this antediluvian history. But he flowed from Cain. And like Cain, he had his godless nature. His technological skills, his advanced weaponry, his farming implements, implements of construction—likely were harnessed to serve the growing pride and violence of Cain's line. Think about this. Perhaps it was Lamech who used one of his son's weapons to kill this young man. Give it a thought. So Cain, Tubal-Cain—he dominated this aspect of metallurgy. He made tools that could have helped mankind, but instead, mankind was harmed. And much like our own age, brilliant in technology, but bankrupt in truth. And a lot of times we use our technological advances to just advance more godlessness. It was a society advancing in tools, yet decaying in truth.

And here's something strange: I want to point out very quickly that a sister is mentioned. Her name is Nama, meaning "pleasant" or "pleasure." I believe Moses adds her name here intentionally. Since we've seen, it's the male descendants who are listed. But then we have a sister. Perhaps Moses is simply highlighting this focus on external beauty, sensuality, and charm. Friend, this was a legacy of godlessness. This was a cultivated culture—a culture full of innovation, yet one that lacked salvation. Cain's descendants took dominion of the earth. They used his resources. They crafted, they created. But they did so in a way that did not glorify God or honor Him. They were selfish. They were self-centered. They built cities in their own honor. Much like our own self-obsessed, selfie generation, where it's all about me, my preferences, how I feel, and what I want. They enjoyed music, art, culture—all gifts from God, all good things. But they misused these good gifts that God gave them, using them to defy Him. They were seductive. They played on the lust of men. They redefined God's laws and created their own. They redefined marriage. They were vengeful and proud and spiteful. They had a form of religion, but they denied the power thereof. They were fueled by pride. They were void of truth. They were ever learning. But they were never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Does that not sound like our generation, friends? It was a culture marked by materialism, but one that declined in morality. It was a society full of decadence, yet marked by decay. It was an anti-God, arrogant, defiant generation indifferent to the truth. But friends, we shouldn't be surprised that this sounds just like our generation because the words of our Lord in Matthew 24:37-39 say that before His return it would be what? Just like the days of Noah. People were eating, drinking, marrying, giving in marriage until the day Noah entered the ark. This generation, or this lineage, is the days before the flood. These are the days of Noah when mankind is increasing in population, explosion, art, culture, music, everywhere. But yet they are godless. And they scoff at the preaching of men like Noah. They scoff at men like Enoch who are walking with God in the midst of their sinful society. And they say, "What's the use of living for God?" Until the flood came and swept them all away. Who is the "all"? It's everybody except Noah and his family who were from the line of Seth.

Despite all of the Cainites' great accomplishments, all their wealth, all their power, all their success, all their achievements, guess what happened to it? It was wiped away in the flood, and not one of them was left. They tried to build a city for themselves, but their city crumbled to the ground. Friends, such is every life that is attempted to build on anything but Christ. It will all be swept away. It will all crumble into nothingness. Build a name for yourself. But in that day, there's going to be one name. And that's the name of Jesus. And every knee will bow to Him. And every tongue will confess that He is Lord. All earthly kingdoms will become His. They will become the kingdom of Christ and of God. So whose kingdom are you living for? Whose city do you belong to? Whose family are you in?

Friends, judgment did not delay. It took a long time for the Lord to send the flood. But He did nonetheless. Why is that? Why did God delay? Because He's patient, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. Why hasn't the Lord returned and done something with this godlessness and wickedness in our own generation that looks much like the generation of Cain? It's because of the same reason. Because He's merciful. Because He's long-suffering. He does not want to send a flood of His wrath upon the Christ-rejecting earth, but He will because His justice demands it. But for now, He is staying His judgment, holding off justice, giving men and women time to repent and respond to the gospel.

I want to end this morning with a glimmer of hope. Verse 25: "Adam knew his wife again. She bore a son and named him Seth." It seems like these Cainites are growing, prospering. Unrighteousness is pervading every avenue of society. It seems like darkness is winning, but guess what? God steps in. God is not done. The story is not over. God sends Adam and Eve another son. His name is Seth. His name means appointed. And Eve said that he was given to replace Abel who was killed by Cain. When it looked like the seed of the serpent had won, God comes through. God pulls out the W. God sends another son. And it's through the lineage of Seth that the Messiah will come.

Friends, let me tell you, God sent his son. Seth is just a prototype. He's an early type of the true and greater son whom God sent. And his name is Jesus Christ. And he sent his son to this sin-cursed earth to redeem sinners. He came as a light in the darkness. He came as hope in the midst of despair. God sent Adam and Eve a son. God has sent us a greater son, the Lord Jesus Christ, who is our Savior. And if you will call upon his name, you can be saved. You don't have to be like the Cainites and be swept away in the flood of God's judgment. You can be in Christ, the ark of safety. You can be saved. You can belong to the heavenly city. Your name can be written in the genealogy, the lineage of Christ. You can be adopted and placed into the family of God this morning.

So as you come, give us a hymn of invitation. If you're not saved this morning, I want to give you the gospel. Jesus came and lived the life, perfect and sinless, that you could not live. He died the death that you deserved. He rose from the dead to defeat a grave that you couldn't conquer. And he ever lives to make intercession for you. And whoever will call upon the name of the Lord will be saved. Your name can be written in the Lamb's book of life. Your name can be recorded. You can be a member of the family of God. Your home can be the eternal city of heaven. If you will call upon him, ask him to forgive you, place your faith and trust in him alone. This altar is open. If you want to come and pray, if you feel more comfortable praying where you are, just call out to the Lord this morning.