Hatred

Where does hate come from? Is hate natural for man, or is it part of a spiritual darkness that operates in the spirit realm and in the rebellion against God? It didn’t take long for hate to show up on Earth. Hate reared its ugly head when there were only 4 people on the earth.

Genesis 4:8 (NLT)

One day Cain suggested to his brother, “Let’s go out into the fields.” And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother, Abel, and killed him.

Think about it. If you lived during that time, you had a 25% chance of dying from a hate crime. 25% of humanity was a murderer. Hate produced murder when there were only four people on the earth. Where did hate come from? The Apostle John gives us perhaps the clearest answer to this question about the origin of hate.

1 John 3:11-12 (NLT)

This is the message you have heard from the beginning: We should love one another.

12  We must not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and killed his brother. And why did he kill him? Because Cain had been doing what was evil, and his brother had been doing what was righteous.

Cain belonged to Satan, the evil one, and Satan gave his hatred to Cain. Yes, there was free will, and God gave Cain a warning about the consequences of jealousy and rebellion.

Genesis 4:6-7 (NLT)

“Why are you so angry?” the LORD asked Cain. “Why do you look so dejected?

7  You will be accepted if you do what is right. But if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master.”

God told Cain…do what is right, and you will find yourself in the presence of love. Refuse to do what is right, and you will find yourself in the presence of the evil one. Sin is rebellion against God. Sin is to join the hater in his rebellion against God.

That was true in the time of Cain and Abel, and it’s also true today. Satan is the god of this world, and those who belong to this world will hate those who belong to God.

1 John 3:13-15 (NLT)

So don’t be surprised, dear brothers and sisters, if the world hates you.

14  If we love our Christian brothers and sisters, it proves that we have passed from death to life. But a person who has no love is still dead.

15  Anyone who hates another brother or sister is really a murderer at heart. And you know that murderers don’t have eternal life within them.

Love comes from God. Hate comes from the devil. Love is the evidence that a person has crossed over from death to life. Love is the fruit that proves that the devil does not own you. Hate brought the death of Abel.  I find great comfort knowing that one day there will only be love. No more hate. No more rebellion and no more death.

Hebrews 1:8-9 (NLT)

But to the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, endures forever and ever. You rule with a scepter of justice.

9  You love justice and hate evil. Therefore, O God, your God has anointed you, pouring out the oil of joy on you more than on anyone else.”

Maranatha, Hosanna, Hallelujah and Amen,

Terry Cooper

Lead Minister