In the midst of my insomnia-induced thought process, I got to thinking on a friend's wedding that he wants me to officiate in a few months. Once I got past the "what the heck am I going to say?" thoughts, I started pondering on the idea of a covenant relationship. There are several examples of this type of relationship offered up in the bible. The first one that came to mind is from Genesis after Noah got out of the ark:
Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him: 9 “I now establish my covenant with you and with your descendants after you 10 and with every living creature that was with you—the birds, the livestock and all the wild animals, all those that came out of the ark with you—every living creature on earth. 11 I establish my covenant with you: Never again will all life be destroyed by the waters of a flood; never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth.”- Genesis 9:9-11 (NIV)God then went on to say, "But, if I find out thou hast done me wrong, then lo, the deal is off, bro." Er... wait, that's not in there? Harumph!
Well, jumping ahead in my thoughts, I got to what I would consider one of the ultimate covenants. Actually, the "I won't wipe everyone off the face of the earth with a massive flood" covenant is a pretty good one too, but that's beside the point. Paul sums it up pretty well in his letter to the Christians in Rome:
"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." - Romans 5:8 (NIV)My guess is that the editors of the Bible forgot to put Paul's next line, which I'm pretty sure said something to the effect of, "However, the minute you sinners screw up, God will demonstrate to you the awesome power of the 'undo' button. Booyah!" Or maybe not. It's a working theory.
So, why is marriage sometimes... different? Isn't is supposed to be a similar sort of covenant? In John 3, John the Baptizer (as he was called) was baptizing people (big surprise), and some dudes asked him why people were going to Jesus to be baptized too. John's response:
"The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete." - John 3:29
The bride was obviously the people going to Jesus. His followers. His church. John is referencing this common marriage principle of the wife being joined to her husband. John had been "preparing ye the way" for the messiah for quite some time at this point, and his joy was made complete in the bridegroom that is Jesus.
So if Jesus is the bridegroom... and we are his bride... and his covenant with us was made through His death on the cross to take away our sins... then I'm thinking this covenant looks pretty strong right now.
And I believe THAT is the type of covenant we should be attaining to in our marriages. The type of covenant that knows exactly what it is getting into and fully expects to overcome every hardship and troubled time through the power that only God can provide.
Eek. Easier said than done.
I understand that divorce happens for a wide variety of reasons, and from what I've been told countless times, "the statistics" say that half the people reading this (which means 1 to 2 of you) have been divorced, are currently divorced, or will be divorced in your lifetime. I know many people who have been through it, and every situation is unique. I am not saying that people who get divorced are weak, lazy, ungodly, uncaring, heartless, or any more of a sinner than I am. We are all sinners (Rom 3:21-26... or just go ahead and read all of Romans). My point is simply this:
Is it possible to go into marriage without the attitude and readiness to play the divorce card at a moment's notice? That if everything doesn't turn out like I planned, I haven't given myself the quick and easy option to cut and run? My wife and I took divorce off the table before we were married. That's not to say it can't and won't happen (again, we're all in the same boat with regards to going against God's will), but I feel that it would take a lot more to break apart a covenant marriage that is rooted in the perfect example of Christ.
I've never heard anybody say "I am getting married, but I'm planning on being divorced in a couple years," but basing a marriage on a covenant relationship and removing the option for divorce at the outset of marriage just may put you into the category of those who would simply say "I am getting married," knowing full well the sinful nature of man and the power of God that has overcome it.
It's 2:55 AM now. I hope this makes some sort of sense...
AMEN!!!!!! Well said Kyle, well said!
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