Without a Word

The story of Cain and Abel in Genesis 4 is remarkable in many ways. One of these is what was said and what was not said. The Bible only records what God said to Cain and what Cain said to God. Not one word of Abel is recorded in the Scriptures. And yet we read these words in Hebrews 11:4—“By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks.” Without saying a word in the Bible Abel has spoken to every generation since the time of the first human family.

Mary did a very simple thing for Jesus. She anointed Him with very expensive oil. Judas Iscariot insisted that this was a waste and said this ointment could have been sold and the money could have been used to help the poor. The other disciples agreed. The Bible does not record a word Mary said while all this happened. But Jesus put His disciples in their place with these words: “Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her" (Matt. 26:13). Judas said some critical words, but Mary is still getting the last word without uttering a word.

Noah was a preacher of righteousness in a world of wicked people (II Pet. 2:5). But he also preached by what he did. “By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith” (Hebrew. 11:7). It is true that he condemned the world in words, but this verse says he also condemned the world by his actions.

A king of Aragon once said that dead men are our best instructors. That is true of their words, but is sometimes even more true of their actions.

We want people, especially our loved ones, to remember good and wise words we said. They will. But they will also remember what we did without saying anything. The memory people have of us after we are gone will not just be what we said or wrote. It will be the lasting impression of who we were.

Kerry

West End church of Christ • August 24, 2025