Till Death Do Us Part

     Summer  is a crazy time for weddings, isn't it? That means summer should also be a crazy time for anniversaries, right? It should! Brittany and I are coming up on 3 years as of August 1st and we are loving each other more every day. Seeing as though I'm a young "wipper-snapper" with regard to being married, it comes as no surprise that I'm learning more about marriage all the time. However, the latest thing God has taught me about marriage has been a doosy!

Why is marriage so important? 

Why is marriage "to the death"? (I could have said it differently...this was funnier :)

Why is divorce such a big deal?

What does marriage have to do with God?

     I never really thought about these questions until I found myself trying to explain it to some of my students in Washington. What I believe God helped me to understand is this:

     In various places throughout Scripture, God's people are referred to as his "bride". There are parables about it in the gospels, in Revelation there's an apocalyptic party called "the marriage supper of the Lamb", and in the Old Testament, God is frequently likened to a groom with his beautiful bride.

To keep college kids from saying "so what?" I usually have to explain a little more ;)

     So, if marriage is something that we treat flippantly, selfishly, disrespectfully, or subjectively, what does that say about God? All of a sudden it would sound like Scripture portrays God as someone who loves us only so long as we're nice to him, or kicks us while we're down to make himself feel better, or hangs out with us until something better comes along. THAT IS NOT WHAT GOD IS LIKE. 

This is where college kids say "Ooooooh!" which is fun because they're not expecting more :)

     Divorce gives the impression that God might leave us if we're not perfect, and re-marrying might make it look like we can find ourselves a new God if we don't like what Jesus commands us to do. That's not how it works with God.
    
In the church today it sounds like people who have gotten divorced have also gotten a fist full of guilt from Christians, who should have the most grace of anyone. Divorce hurts enough on its own. It causes so many problems and pain and awkward relationships and baggage. It's comforting to know that because God never intended for divorce, he never intended for us to deal with the hurt that comes along with it.
     
     So when I do my best to show Brittany love and expend myself to care for her, what I am doing is accurately representing God's character. We should all strive to represent God well. In my vows to Brittany on our wedding day I told her that I was choosing her over everyone else...regardless of what I want, how I feel, or how she treats me. God's commitment to us is just as unconditional.   

By this time, the typical college student is staring blankly into space as their brain shuts down from overload!

     My love for God and my understanding of God's love for us grew immensely as I looked at the meaning of marriage. My hope in sharing this is that it will do the same for you.

 P.S. - When you think about it, for God, the marriage vow is something more like "Till death do us MEET".