Divorce
This is a subject which most everybody is familiar with. We all know someone who has been in a marriage that did not last. The percentages (%) are quite high these days concerning divorce. What does the bible tell us of this matter? I am not a marriage counselor but I have been married to the same women for many years which does in fact makes me an expert. Did you know that Jesus died for a woman? Yes he gave his life freely, committed himself to the agony of the cross for the love of a women (Acts 20:28)! She was not even born until he died! Why did Christ say that he was returning to the earth? Answer...To claim his bride. When will this great event take place? Answer...When she has matured and become a woman! Ephesians 5:19-33 explains this and marriage more clearly than any other passage dealing with this issue. verse 25 "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it:" Marriage is a giving and loving union. Christ left this world to return to right hand side of his father and he left his bride here on earth. The bride was to die because there was a death sentence on her head. But Jesus loving her more than anything the world could offer, took her place and spared her punishment and death. In doing this Galatians 2:20 explains this union "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live: yet not I, but Christ liveth in me:" Even though Jesus left his bride behind, he did not leave her comfortless to face an accusing world alone. John 14:26 "But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you". When Christ returns to find his bride without spot or blemish a chaste (innocent, modest, perfect, clean and pure, blameless) virgin the bible calls her, a marriage will take place. Revelation 19:7 "Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to him: for the marriage of the Lamb (Jesus) is come, and his wife hath made herself ready". How much does Jesus love his church (bride)? Matthew 13:45-46 "Again the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it". A pearl is used here as an example because a pearl is one. Accretion, and that form a pearl not mechanically, but vitally through a living one. The church was born through the death of Christ. How does the bible view marriage? Matthew 19:5-6 "And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave (to glue or to join) to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh." Marriage is instituted by God (Genesis 2:18-24), Honorable (Hebrews 13:4). What is the purpose of marriage? (Genesis 2:18) says" it is not good that a man should be alone". (1 Corinthians 7:2-9) says "to avoid fornication". Marriage should be a lifelong journey, of love not a disastrous collision. To love and to cherish 'til death do us part. Married couples are not supposed to split up! "If God be for us who can be against us". Marriage is ordained of God so shouldn't God be the centerpiece of marriage in order to keep it strong? Let God direct the marriage and do not take your eye off the road and he will not direct you wrong. When tragedy and trials come who better to unite a family than the head of the family, Jesus Christ! Marriage is supposed to be a life long sanction (Mark 10:2-12), and marriage ends at death (Romans 7:2-3). Divorce is only allowed in cases of adultery (Matthew 5:27-32). The bible teaches and promotes reconciliation (1 Corinthians 7:10-17). A word seldom-used, in marriage is devotion and respect. Jesus looks at the church as his bride and has been made sin for her that the bride might be made the righteousness of God in him. To say we believe in Jesus Christ is to say that we believe in the bonds of marriage. To dissolve one's marriage for anything other than the act of adultery is to cast doubt on the unity of Christ's relationship with his church. A believer who leaves their spouse is in fact saying that the power of Christ is not strong enough to endorse a marriage of the bridegroom Jesus the head of the church) and the bride (the body of Christ). Work, money, children, boredom, none of these things should be the reason for divorce. These are used as excuses for one's own selfishness. Marriage is not something to be entered into lightly and immaturely. Marriage is holy and there is not only a promise to the person you are marring but a promise to God that you will be faithful until the end. Marriage is and should be a relationship made in heaven. The reality is that sometimes it turns into hell for both parties. There is still no excuse for separation. Christ never caused pain to his church nor left her alone to wonder of his whereabouts, never struck her in anger, never humiliated her but shelters her, protects her, loves her, strengthens her, encourages her, delivers her, preserves her, helps her, absorbs the pain. Hebrews 13:5 "I will never leave you nor forsake you".
Dale Thompson