...let there be peace on earth...and let it begin with me...

“17 Cain knew his wife, and she conceived and bore Enoch; and he built a city, and named it Enoch after his son Enoch. 18 To Enoch was born Irad; and Irad was the father of Mehujael, and Mehujael the father of Methushael, and Methushael the father of Lamech. 19 Lamech took two wives; the name of one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah. 20 Adah bore Jabal; he was the ancestor of those who live in tents and have livestock. 21 His brother’s name was Jubal; he was the ancestor of all those who play the lyre and pipe. 22 Zillah bore Tubal-cain, who made all kinds of bronze and iron tools. The sister of Tubal-cain was Naamah.

23 Lamech said to his wives: ‘Adah and Zillah, hear my voice; you wives of Lamech, listen to what I say: I have killed a man for wounding me, a young man for striking me.

24 If Cain is avenged sevenfold, truly Lamech seventy-sevenfold.’

25 Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son and named him Seth, for she said, ‘God has appointed for me another child instead of Abel, because Cain killed him.’ 26 To Seth also a son was born, and he named him Enosh. 

At that time people began to invoke the name of the Lord.”

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“1 This is the list of the descendants of Adam. When God created humankind, he made them in the likeness of God. 2 Male and female he created them, and he blessed them and named them ‘Humankind’ when they were created.

3 When Adam had lived for one hundred and thirty years, he became the father of a son in his likeness, according to his image, and named him Seth. 4 The days of Adam after he became the father of Seth were eight hundred years; and he had other sons and daughters. 5 Thus all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years; and he died.

6 When Seth had lived for one hundred and five years, he became the father of Enosh. 7 Seth lived after the birth of Enosh for eight hundred and seven years, and had other sons and daughters. 8 Thus all the days of Seth were nine hundred and twelve years; and he died.

9 When Enosh had lived for ninety years, he became the father of Kenan. 10 Enosh lived after the birth of Kenan for eight hundred and fifteen years, and had other sons and daughters. 11 Thus all the days of Enosh were nine hundred and five years; and he died.

12 When Kenan had lived for seventy years, he became the father of Mahalalel. 13 Kenan lived after the birth of Mahalalel for eight hundred and forty years, and had other sons and daughters. 14 Thus all the days of Kenan were nine hundred and ten years; and he died.

15 When Mahalalel had lived for sixty-five years, he became the father of Jared. 16 Mahalalel lived after the birth of Jared for eight hundred and thirty years, and had other sons and daughters. 17 Thus all the days of Mahalalel were eight hundred and ninety-five years; and he died.

18 When Jared had lived for one hundred and sixty-two years he became the father of Enoch. 19 Jared lived after the birth of Enoch for eight hundred years, and had other sons and daughters. 20 Thus all the days of Jared were nine hundred and sixty-two years; and he died.

21 When Enoch had lived for sixty-five years, he became the father of Methuselah. 22 Enoch walked with God after the birth of Methuselah for three hundred years, and had other sons and daughters. 23 Thus all the days of Enoch were three hundred and sixty-five years. 24 Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him.

25 When Methuselah had lived for one hundred and eighty-seven years, he became the father of Lamech. 26 Methuselah lived after the birth of Lamech for seven hundred and eighty-two years, and had other sons and daughters. 27 Thus all the days of Methuselah were nine hundred and sixty-nine years; and he died.

28 When Lamech had lived for one hundred and eighty-two years, he became the father of a son; 29 he named him Noah, saying, ‘Out of the ground that the Lord has cursed this one shall bring us relief from our work and from the toil of our hands.’ 30 Lamech lived after the birth of Noah for five hundred and ninety-five years, and had other sons and daughters. 31 Thus all the days of Lamech were seven hundred and seventy-seven years; and he died.

32 After Noah was five hundred years old, Noah became the father of Shem, Ham, and Japheth” Genesis 4:17 — 5:32.

Dear friends, from the very opening pages of the bible we see good and evil. Why does God allow evil? This question has plagued philosophers of all cultures and all eras. We are still living under the curse, and the paradox of a God who extends blessing on the one hand but perpetuates the curse on the other is often baffling. The proliferation of evil seems always to surpass what feeble attempts are made to staunch its influence or reclaim sacred space. Good is often accompanied and tainted by evil.

Yet, even as we realize that good is often haunted by evil, so we must recognize that God is able to turn curse to blessing. The most obvious and ubiquitous element of the curse is death, and the genealogies have shown us that death reigned. In contrast, the benefit of death is that it brings release from a cursed world. Though we cling tenaciously to life, there is something better awaiting those with faith in Christ. Thus Paul reminds us that “to live is Christ and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21) and that death has lost its sting (1 Corinthians 15:55).

The past century and a half has been a time of industrial, technological, medical, and electronic revolution. Now technology may be able to bring some relief from the curse, but there is no salvation from the curse to be found there. The same human tendency that instigated the ancients to think mistakenly that the arts of civilization proceeded from the gods deludes us into thinking that our advances of civilization are redemptive. But they’re not!

C. S. Lewis puts all of this in perspective as he observes, “I care far more how humanity lives than how long. Progress, for me, means increasing goodness and happiness of individual lives. For the species, as for each man, mere longevity seems to me a contemptible ideal.” Technological advances, unfortunately, can do nothing to improve goodness and happiness or to undo the curse, yet God is capable of bringing blessing alongside the curse and cultivating good from evil.

Take time in your daily prayer to pray for our leaders throughout the world, as well as an end to violence and wars, all of which cause needless death. And pray for respect and equality in the ways we treat other human beings.

pray that there will be peace on earth — and let it begin with each of us.

Lord Jesus Christ, son of the Liv ing God, have mercy on me a sinner.