After Cain murdered Abel his brother, a mark was placed on him, which illustrates the bad identity that sin gives. Genesis 4:15 say:
“And the LORD said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the LORD set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him.”
Nobody knows the nature of the mark that was placed on Cain; all we know is that it was meant to identity Cain so that those who met him would not kill him. Some Bible scholars suggest that this mark was given to ensure that Cain did not die cheaply, thereby preventing him from receiving a full dose of the penalty of his sin. Irrespective of the nature or purpose of this mark, one thing is certain: Cain’s sin gave him a bad identity on the whole earth.

From 1 John 3:8 we understand that sin puts the mark of the devil’s ownership upon every sinner. Revelation 22:15 further reveals that in God’s sight, a sinner has the identity of a stray dog. Stray dogs are seen outside and are known to be dirty, promiscuous and aggressive. Sin is so terrible that it deforms the image of a person created in God’s image to the level of a dog! No wonder we see the people of this world manifesting the characteristics of dogs today. It is because their minds have been deformed by sin, so they are just manifesting the nature of the image they now possess in them. Some have even gone so low to indulge in unspeakable acts. Sin really leaves a terrible identity on anyone who yields to its control.

Are you caught in the web of sin? Has sin warped your mind so terribly? Is your life overshadowed by the bad identity given by sin? I have good news for you today: no matter how horrible the identity sin has placed on you is, Jesus Christ can remove it today with His Blood. All you need to do is to surrender your life to Him as He calls all people to reconcile with God the Father through genuine repentance. When you do this, He will give you a brand new identity (2nd Corinthians 5:17-18). Have you been saved by grace? Never return to your vomit of sin like a dog would (2nd Peter 2:21-22). Sin will deform your new identity in Christ and change your standing with God. Is that sinful act really worth that much to you? Can the pleasure you derive from it compare to the joy of your salvation and the hope of glory you have in Christ Jesus? Don’t listen to the devil when he says that it doesn’t matter and that no consequence will follow an act of sin. It’s all a lie! Sin does give a bad identity, so run away from it.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.