Have you every wondered WHY?
Why marriage?
Why is this God's plan, God's design?
Why an unbreakable covenant?
Why so intimate?
Why do two become one?
The mystery.
Of all the relationships God created -
or could have created -
One stands apart and holds unique purpose.
Marriage is a binding union, experienced at all levels.
It's powerful, but a power intended for the work and purpose of God's glory.
Ephesians 5:32-32 helps unveil the mystery that makes all of our personal expectations and desires fall flat.
Marriage was not created for the husband or for the wife.
Your happiness, your pleasure, and finding your "soul mate"
are not the purpose of marriage.
These joys and connections will come with it -
when your covenant is committed to the Lord -
but weddings, ever-afters, and anniversaries are not the reason.
Ephesians 5:22-33 describes the roles.
Submission and sacrificial love sound like their own illusive mystery,
but Paul goes on to unfold a real mystery.
The joining, the love, and the honoring are an illustration.
God wants us to grasp the concept of one.
Christ and the church are meant to be ONE.
As the Scriptures say, “A man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.” This is a great mystery, but it is an illustration of the way Christ and the church are one. - Ephesians 5:31-32
From the beginning of time, God wanted us to get an understanding of how intimately and completely Christ would seek to join with the church.
The passion displayed by Christ is the epitome of all rescues.
It's the love story written deep in our souls.
It's the ultimate expression of love, and it is given for a bride.
Scripture names the church as the bride of Christ.
The story resonates deep.
It's the undercurrent of so many great tales and scripts.
Love that champions.
Love that saves.
And two so perfectly join.
We recognize it through marriage, but it is pointing to a greater love.
Christ is the love we seek.
He is the love of our soul.
The mystery is that Christ wants to join with you.
The analogy of marriage is supposed to make our union with Christ tangible,
in the same way that "father - child" reveals so much to us about God.
The covenant and intimacy of marriage in God's design is ultimately about revealing Christ.
That's why marriage is an earthly union. In Heaven there is no need for an analogy.
Our unity with Christ will have no barriers or glitches.
We recognize joining because of marriage, and because of it
we also feel the damage of broken covenant.
Adultery pierces deep.
We recognize the loss and pain of that word.
It's a sin of rejection and deception.
Throughout scripture we hear God call to His people, seeking covenant.
We see God's commitment remain steady as His own people waver and wander.
The Bible scripts this idolatry as adultery.
Oddly, we recognize the sin of adultery in a marriage, but smirk at a God who would act jealous for our time.
Jealous for our love.
Jealous for our worship.
Idolatry is the adultery of our souls, as we deny the One who has given all to join with us.
The only One who is worthy of our worship.
So, if we are seeking to live out the will of God
and all God has so mysteriously purposed,
we need to see the real reason for marriage.
Marriage should point to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
How do I apply that? live that?
Conceptually, this is a jolt to our course of life and advice -
even in the Christian church.
Culturally, we teach young people to find happiness and compatibility in a marriage.
We talk about 50%-50%, give-and-take.
We talk about love and fulfillment, but what is the purpose we suggest?
We teach -
It's for yourself.
Marriage is for you.
We aren't, by pattern, teaching how holy the union is
with a purpose so pure and profound that the very testimony of marriage
would also be a testimony of Jesus.
That when a man actually does sacrifice and love his wife so purely -
it points to Jesus.
That a woman can so deeply respect, honor, and help her husband that it would point to God's call on the church.
Is it any surprise that Satan has so strongly attacked these values and roles?
He is attacking the Gospel.
And we don't know the truth well enough to see it.
Majority rules.
Culture dictates.
Feelings sway.
And families crumble.
There's a gap in our message.
Truth gets lost.
Faith wanes without action.
We speak the Gospel by living the Gospel.
Marriage should be a beautiful part of that.
Our attempts are imperfect, but God honors and blesses the efforts and commitments we make.
And, through Christ, our marriages can transform and grow.
We are changed in our submission.
We are changed because of our obedience.
We are changed because Jesus is the priority.
For we don't live for ourselves. . . Romans 14:7a
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Not every person should or will marry,
but it is core to our life and obedience to understand God's purpose and design for marriage.
The church needs to live differently.
We are called to be set apart, and our marriages should honor the will of God.
It's time to stop blending in.
It's time to live for God, not for ourselves.
Let's commit our lives
our marriages
our families
everything to the Lord.
Marriage may not be exactly what you thought,
but look how outrageous the mystery is!
God wants you to understand the deep love Christ has for you.
Jesus wants to join with you in intimate fellowship.
No matter where you are in this moment,
God has mercy and grace for your scenario.
No one walks a perfect road or lives in perfect relationship.
Seek the Lord where you are.
Seek Godly counsel also as needed.
We have been given revelation to this mystery of God's design.
May we walk in obedience and beautiful expectation, because
Jesus will return for His bride.
Isaiah 57:7-8
You have committed adultery on the mountaintops by worshiping idols there, and so you have been unfaithful to me. Behind closed doors, you have set up your idols and worship them instead of me. This is adultery, for you are loving these idols instead of loving me. You have climbed right into bed with these detestable gods.
1 John 2:15-17
Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever.
Revelation 19:7-8
"Let us be glad and rejoice, and let us give honor to him. For the time has come for the wedding feast of the Lamb, and his bride has prepared herself.
She has been given the finest of pure white linen to wear.” For the fine linen represents the good deeds of God’s holy people.
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