In Genesis chapter one and two we received a beautiful picture of a godly home. We are not told how long this happy couple lived in their original state as husband and wife. We can only imagine what their marriage was like. Yet I think it is worthy for us to reflect a bit on what life was like before the fall. Man was “made a little lower than the angels, and crowned with glory and honor.” God was in the center of man’s being, and God was the center of Adam and Eve’s life and marriage. The two of them went about fulfilling God’s purposes on the earth, and life must have been glorious. Everything flowed together harmoniously and doing right came very naturally. Oh, what bliss, what love, what holy order. We could spend a good while just imagining how this perfect couple lived together in the garden with God; however, that is not our subject today.
The Apostle Paul said to the Corinthians, “we are not ignorant of Satan’s devices.” By this statement we also learn that God does not want us to be ignorant of the motives and strategies of our enemy. So let us take notes as we consider what the Devil did to our ancient grandparents. We know that Satan’s prime motive was to usurp authority and glory from God, by turning Adam and Eve away from God’s clear commandment to them. The happy couple believed his lie and followed his counsel. This brought the destruction of their lives, the first home, and ultimately the whole human race. When they ate that fruit, something died within them and God was no longer in them. The Devil won a great victory over the first man and woman through this one simple disobedience. He now had them out from under God’s authority, and powerless. It is sort of like the cat and the mouse. If you have ever watched a cat that has caught a mouse it can be very sobering. Once the cat has the mouse, he just plays with him. He will let him run around a little and then catch him again. The mouse is totally under control. This is what happened to our first parents. Oh, the devastation this brought to their home. Not only has the man and his wife fallen, but the home has fallen, and all that God had designed it to be has fallen. Because we have read the Bible, we have some idea what a beautiful home it was to be, but alas, they are out from under God’s authority, and powerless. Many today find themselves in the same condition. Whatever degrees of loss and confusion you find your home in, it is for the same reason. But “thanks be unto God,” He will always make us triumph, through Jesus Christ our Lord. “We are more than conquerors, through him that loved us.”
Recovery and restoration are some of the main purposes of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The recovery of this home that was devastated by the fall should be one of our lifelong pursuits. We all know that home-life is where the rubber meets the road. Our Christianity must affect our homes or it is in fact pseudo Christianity (not genuine). Brothers and sisters, there is a great battle raging over our homes. I believe that if the spiritual veil were removed, and we could see the evil forces set against this recovery, we would be shocked and awakened to action. Just as the Devil knew the far-reaching effects of destroying one home in the garden, so now also he knows that generations will be ruined by one home that he turns out of the way. But brethren, we should not despair. God is brooding over our homes, and He also knows what is at stake. Generations of godly people can come forth from one home that is totally given up to God and His Word. History records many examples to validate this truth. May God stir the vision of recovery deep in our hearts, and help us to know that all heaven is on our side of the battle.
I would like to look now at a few lessons that we can glean from the text in Genesis. Practical help for our modern day homes, gleaned from an ancient example of failure.
The Darkness and Disorder of a Home Without God.
Let us begin by acknowledging this fact. A home without God is destined for destruction. Adam and Eve cannot see what they have done, and how it will affect their future. However, we have read further on in the holy record of man’s history, and we know. Darkness and disorder prevails over every home that turns away from God as the true center of every man’s life.
Adam and Eve Did Not Face Their Failure
They should have humbled themselves and waited for God to come and visit them as usual, and then simply told Him what they had done. Instead, we find them hiding, covering, excusing, and blaming. Does this pattern sound and feel familiar? From this account, we can see how much their character has been altered by the fall in one short day. They have already become self-centered. Why? Because they have lost their God. He is no longer at the center of their lives. Restoration in my home comes, when I first of all face the fact that something is wrong. Then confess my sin, “what hast thou done?” asked God. Then thirdly, I must be willing to give God His rightful place in my life and my home.
Adam Failed to Lead Out in His Home
This was a grave error with many consequences. God had clearly given him the position and responsibility of leader in their home. We have no idea what would have happened, had Adam stopped the subtle rebellion by refusing to eat the fruit. That would be a good question to ask the Father some day in heaven. It’s not like he turned the leadership over to Eve. However, by following Eve’s suggestion, and knowing it was wrong, he accepted her leadership by default. This same pattern of neglect is happening all over this land of ours. Most of us fathers and mothers are the product of two generations of failure in these areas. Oh husbands, let us rise to the call of God to return to our place and lead our homes in righteousness. And dear wives, let us be careful what we do with our husband’s attempts at leading.
The Woman is the Weaker Vessel
Even in her perfect state, Eve was weaker, and God had made her that way. Her role in life was to be one of support and encouragement. Satan, who is always looking for the weak points in all of us, focused in on Eve for the first suggestion of rebellion against God. This is not a popular teaching today. Whole denominations are rising up to distort the place God gave to the woman in the garden. This is a grave error, which will lead to much more confusion and deception. Millions of (Christian women) are disgusted at the thought of submitting to their husbands, I Tim. 2:11-15. While we are warned in the scriptures concerning this weakness, we men are also admonished to deal with our wives tenderly and with patience, I Pet. 3:7.
She was Only Trying to Help
As Eve was being deceived, I don’t believe she had any evil intent in her suggestion to her husband. We can only imagine how the conversation went with her husband Adam. She was deceived, and to be deceived is to be thoroughly convinced you are right when you are wrong. Eve must have proceeded to explain to Adam how they had misunderstood what God had said, using all the words that the serpent used on her. A woman has a very powerful ability to influence her man, and so it was that fateful day. I wonder how many times this scene has been played over and over in the histories of husbands and wives. Two warnings are in order here. First of all to the men. Let us be alert, discerning, and careful when we find ourselves at places of decision. I am not saying we should be fearful and full of doubt toward our wives. We should be prayerful and watchful. The second warning we extend to the wives. You have a tremendous ability to sway your mate. Use it wisely, with much prayer. Grave mistakes have been made, out of a good desire to help.
The Poison of Pride was Injected into Our First Parents
Satan fell from his first glorious estate through pride. I am better, I know better, I will be like God and take His place as ruler. The serpent in the garden truly bit Adam and Eve with the destructive venom of pride and it is in our veins to this day. Oh, the conflicts that still run wild at times in our homes through this devilish attitude. “Where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.” Healing comes through humility. Through repentance and faith we can seek our redeemer, the Lord Jesus Christ. As we allow Him to take control of every area of our lives, healing will come.
Oh Adam, what hast thou done? Oh beautiful home, where did you go? Is this beautiful home lost forever? Is there no restoration to be found? The God of the Bible would answer us back with a resounding NO!! We see glimpses of this home springing up again and again in holy writ. It emerges with clarity in the New Testament along with the revelation of Jesus Christ, the savior of our homes.
Dear Heavenly Father, by grace through faith, we bring our homes to you right now. We see how our enemy hath done his destructive work in our homes. Have mercy on us, oh Lord, and on our children. Let Thy will be done in our homes, even as it is in heaven. Stay his hand, we pray thee, and grant us a vision of restoration, and the grit of grace to rise up and change our ways. In Jesus Christ’s Name. Amen.
