“Staying married, therefore is not mainly about staying in love. It is about keeping covenant.
“Till death do us part” or “As long as we both shall live” is a sacred covenant promise-the same kind Jesus made with his bride when he died for her.
Therefore, what makes divorce and remarriage so horrific in God’s eyes is not merely that it involves covenant-breaking to the spouse, but that it involves misrepresenting Christ and his covenant.
Christ will never leave his wife. Ever. There may be times of painful distance and tragic backsliding on our part. But Christ keeps his covenant forever. Marriage is a display of that!
That is the ultimate thing we can say about it. It puts the glory of God’s covenant-keeping love on display.”
John Piper, This Momentary Marriage: A Parable of Permanence
A big AMEN! After forty years of marriage, I can tell you that there are so many blessings to keeping covenant with the one whom God has given you to cherish. Yes, we have had hard times and ups and downs. All marriages go through seasons of challenge….but marriage is so much more than just saying “I love you.” It is a commitment we make of our lives to another through Christ. And yes, it is a picture of His faithful covenant to us. There are many in our church who have been married for sixty years and one couple who has been married for seventy. Amazing and glorifying to God! Thanks for sharing this! Blessings my friend!
Long term marriages in these day are rare and if you have a spouse who is in a high risk job as my husband was(law enforcement) it’s even greater.
We have been married 42 years and we have had ups and downs and did not know the Lord until later in our lives.
We are both grateful to have Christ in our lives today and can rest in his promises.
God Bless,
Elba
Thanks for posting this Christina. There seems to much divorce followed by re-marriage in the church and yet I have never and still can’t see any Biblical warrant for it other than desertion and/or adultery. I know someone can desert someone emotionally and not do so physically, yet it seems we can stretch the scriptures to make them fit our case whatever that case is.
Of course I am only talking about what I “get” from the Bible as far as it’s teachings here. I’m sure it’s easy to pontificate over something that has never affected one’s life.
But faith takes work, the Spouse has to be active in trying to be obedient to our Head, by that I am not meaning working our way to heaven, it’s a fruit of faith. But faith is not passive either, it takes work. The same is true as far as it taking work in the covenant of marriage too I believe. I think folks often marry today both in and out of the church, confusing lust with love.
(sorry for long comment!)
I love the fact that marriage is a sign and a symbol that God has given us that demonstrates throughout the whole fabric of society the love of Christ for His church. Every single marriage demonstrates this, whether the parties involved are aware of it or not – amazing! In every single household in every country of the world where there is a married couple – there is a picture of Christ loving His church, whether the couple are Christian, Hindu, Muslim, atheist. And isn’t this exactly why there is such an attack on marriage within society? Thank God for His covenant with us in Christ!
What a beautiful picture of the institution of marriage, and why it was so beautifully created by God! Thank you Jesus!
Beautiful Christ-centered excerpt! Divorce was one of the many sins that had me to believe that I could never be ‘saved’. Thank God for His Grace, His Love, His Promise, His Faithfulness, His Plan, His Son, His Counselor, and His Word (such as Romans 5:20; 3:20; 6:1-2). Blessings, my friend!
First of all, I would like to say “thank you” to everyone for such thoughtful and God glorifying comments. I’ve been deeply moved by all of your reflections today. I truly thank you for taking the time to respond in such a beautiful way.
Barbara & Elba – Thank you for gracing this post with each of your testimonies. My heart is deeply moved because your words are not just words — they’ve been tested & tried! You are both living proof that the marriage covenant can last a lifetime! Bless God for your testimonies of God’s grace in your respective marriages and I truly pray that God continue to bless your marriages that they would bear much fruit in the Kingdom of God.
Deejay- not surprisingly I agree with everything you have said. 🙂 I would only add (and I’m certain you would agree) that in the cases where it is permissible to divorce it is not always the “best” thing to do. In the case of adultery, where there is true repentance, it is possible, by God’s grace to overcome. Sadly, the world has influenced the church and not the other way around and divorce, as you say, is taken too lightly.
Diana- “In every single household in every country of the world where there is a married couple – there is a picture of Christ loving His church, whether the couple are Christian, Hindu, Muslim, atheist.” Sister, this just blessed me so! That is beautiful and oh, so true! And yes, is it any wonder that there is such an assuault on marriages?
Louis – You are precious! I am thanking Jesus with you!
Petra – I hear you loud and clear! And, don’t you know that it was adultery that kept me from believing that God would ever receive me? “…her sins, which are many, have been forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little.” (Luke 7:47)
All my Love and blessings to each of you!
Christina: Thanks for adding that in to my comment. Of course I agree.
(You’ll be glad to know I Have a proof reader for your series–and my own writings in future!!) 😉 (and tis not ME-anie!)
“Staying married, therefore is not mainly about staying in love. It is about keeping covenant.”
I think this is one of the best statements about marriage. I would recommend Piper’s talks and book even on this side of divorce, because it puts marriage in the perspective of eternity.
When asked if she ever considered divorce, Ruth Graham replied:
“Divorce? No. Murder? Yes.”