The principle of Cain and Abel defines God’s internal providence, from the individual’s mind and body to John the Baptist and Jesus, kings and popes, communism and democracy, members and leaders, and children and parents.
But it’s hard to understand this principle. During his Sunday sermons at Belvedere, True Father would chastise us. I thought, “Why do you chastise us? We’re the ones who got up at 4 a.m. to be here! Why don’t you chastise those who are not here?”
I didn’t understand Abel’s position.
To save Cain, there must be an Abel.
Cain and Abel begins with God’s heart after the Fall. “If there were another son or daughter who had not fallen, and if this unfallen son [had] asked God to save the fallen brother and sister, …God would have [had] a heart to forgive them. Such a heart of God,” Father said, “became the basis for the salvation of fallen man.”
God seeks the unfallen ones who love the fallen ones so much that they are willing to sacrifice themselves for their sake.
“To save the fallen Adam and Eve, that is, Cain, he must make himself a sacrifice for their salvation.” Abel’s willingness to accept the punishment that is due Cain is “the central principle in the providence of God’s salvation.”
“To save Cain, there must be an Abel …in the position of the unfallen brother who asks God to forgive the fallen Adam and Eve because of him.” That is, Abel presents him or herself to God as Cain’s representative. “At the sacrifice of Abel, the …providence will proceed. …This is the unit of God’s providence.”
At the sacrifice of Abel, the providence will proceed.
Thereby, Abel comforts the heart of God and of the fallen ones: ”you must be willing to sacrifice yourself in order to relieve God’s grievous heart and that of the brothers and sisters in satanic bondage.”
God’s work progresses only through heart. Father explained how Abel can achieve such heart: “To become Abel, he must first be in a position to receive God’s love. To receive God’s love, he must come out of the fallen sphere of Satan.” Abel has to “fight against Satan and separate [him or herself] from the satanic world.”
This is why we left everything behind, only to get chastised on those Sunday mornings.
Next we will look at True Father’s sympathy for Cain.
(Citations: Exposition of Divine Principle, p. 191; “Heavenly Tradition,” January 20, 1973, Belvedere https://www.tparents.org/Moon-Talks/SunMyungMoon73/SM730120.htm; “How God Is Pursuing His Restoration Providence,” Dec 22, 1971, https://www.tparents.org/Moon-Talks/SunMyungMoon71/711222.HTM; “Master Speaks,” Dec 14, 1971, https://www.tparents.org/Moon-Talks/SunMyungMoon71/SM711214.HTM.)
