June 18 Daily Devotional

Alienation in Eden

Charles and Norma Ellis

Bible Reading

Genesis 3:7-10

⁷And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.
⁸And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.
⁹And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?
¹⁰And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.

Devotional

When Adam and Eve ate the fruit they did not become poisoned as if the fruit had been contaminated. Their very eating of the fruit, rather, was an indication of a growing spirit of revolt against God. It was the forthright act that gave evidence of rebellion.

Now that they had disobeyed God it was as though a wall were built or as though war had been declared. There was separation, enmity. They were alienated from God. No longer did they have sweet communion with Him as they walked together in the cool of the evening. Now they fled from His presence. There was fear. And 'fear hath torment' (I John 4:18).

Now their own unity was broken, too. They had been made to cleave to each other and be one flesh. But now that sin had defaced the image of God in them they were ashamed. Vainly they attempted to hide from each other behind clothing of leaves. And vainly they attempted to keep from each other the growing ugliness of their thoughts and feelings!

We learn in geometry that if two lines are each parallel to a third line they are parallel to each other. We might say that the third line is the norm and so is like God. If the man is in the right relationship with God and if the woman is in the right relationship with God, then each is in the right relationship with the other. If one of them is askew, then their marriage is distorted.

Has a problem developed in our marriage in any area? Then let us each attempt to discover what is wrong with his/her own relationship with God. If each of us will strive to live in loving submission to God, obeying His principles for marriage, a change will occur. The alienation of Eden cannot persist in the Christian home if both man and woman are seeking to glorify God.

We are happy to have obtained permission to post as our current daily devotional Heirs Together of Life: Daily Bible Reading for Husbands and Wives, published by The Banner of Truth Trust. Don't be misled by the subtitle. As the book's "Preface" indicates (see below), although Heirs Together of Life is "especially prepared for couples,"the authors declare, "Since the basis for this guide is God's Word, we believe it would have value for any reader."

Charles and Norma Ellis are husband and wife and the authors not only of Heirs Together of Life (which was first published in 1980 and continues in print today), but also of Wells of Salvation (first published in 1985, and likewise still in print today). The latter contains a series of short studies covering the entire book of Isaiah, while the former contains a series of almost 200 short studies covering the entire Bible, from Genesis to Revelation. Both books by the Ellises can be ordered from the publisher, The Banner of Truth Trust. We trust that these daily Bible readings, posted daily on our site, will be helpful to you in your Christian walk before God. Whether married or not, all of us are members of families and members of the family of God.

Charles Ellis was educated at Wheaton College and Westminster Theological Seminary. Upon graduation from Westminster (where he earned not only a Th.B. but also a Th.M.), he was ordained to the ministry in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church and pastored a number of OPC churches, including Immanuel OPC in West Collingswood, New Jersey; First OPC in Cincinnati, Ohio; Covenant OPC in East Orange, New Jersey; Knox OPC in Silver Spring, Maryland; and Lakeview OPC in Rockport, Maine. Less biographical information is available about his wife, but it is known that they served as parents of seven children. After retiring from the ministry, Charles Ellis went to be with the Lord in 2003, but he and his wife left us with a beautiful legacy in the two books they have given to the world, and we are proud to share the daily Bible readings from Heirs Together of Life here with you.

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