I would be hard-pressed to think of any institution that has been more devalued in modern society than the institution of marriage.
Contrary to popular opinion, marriage is not merely a social-societal arrangement.
Good Marriage (as God intended) is a signpost.
It points us on a road of trust, faithfulness, commitment and love and leads toward intimacy. Ultimately it points beyond our human relationships toward God.
Initially when Adam and Eve were in the Garden, they were "naked and felt no shame. (Gen2:25)" They were close to each other and to God and they felt safe. This is true intimacy. After sin entered the world, they did not feel safe, were insecure in who they were and were separated from each other and God.
Throughout the Old Testament God uses marriage and unfaithfulness to point out the relationship between Himself and Israel. He asks Hosea to marry an unfaithful prostitute to illustrate what Israel was doing to God. In the book of Revelation, the Church is described as the Bride and Christ as the Groom. Jesus also makes it clear that we will not be married in heaven.
Human marriage should be a place of faithfulness, trust, love, companionship and intimacy. When it is good, marriage helps us understand how God feels about us and we understand a little bit of what heaven is like.
When marriage is unpleasant or wrecked by adultery, there is serious damage. Not only to the couple's ability to trust and love again, but also to the signpost that points toward God and His plan for us.
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Theo Groeneveld theo@emmanuel.org.za
You can see past EmmDevs at http://emmdev.blogspot.com/
