Continued from last week's sermon.
Let's continue on this path and discuss human marriage.
God, in His wisdom, ordained marriage between a male and female and nothing has changed since. Genesis 1:24: "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh." What is transpiring in the world today is an absolute disgrace to the human race. It's obvious based on what God says that when two people marry they must remain as husband wife for their lifetime here on earth. Therefore it is imperative that they should have much in common; I personally do not believe that opposites attract like oil and water that cannot mix; cannot become one. When they are poured into each other all the stirring in the world cannot bring the two together as one.
This is the reason for a courtship or an engagement period, if you prefer; to discover whether or not there is compatibility which should be the cornerstone for a marriage relationship. Are there mutual likes and dislikes or is the foundation based on sex or beauty (a trophy wife as they say)? When the marriage becomes stormy, and it will, they have reason to stay the course or will they run at the first sign of a storm? If the sex attraction doesn't pan out as was thought, for whatever the reason, will there be enough 'glue' to hold the marriage together?
I would like to introduce at this time a beautiful woman some of you may know or have heard about; her name is Renee Bondi. She has a book called: The Last Dance but Not the Last Song, I would strongly urge you to purchase it and read about her incredible journey. I have never had the pleasure of meeting Renee but we have corresponded and we both know we will meet when we both go home. Renee is married and has a world-wide ministry and has touched the lives of countless numbers of people. The very reason I bring her to you is because of her marriage,
Two weeks before Renee was to be married she had a terrible accident; she woke up one morning only to discover herself lying on the floor in her bedroom propped against a door with her head in an unorthodox position. No one seems to know what happened. Following many months of recuperation Renee remained a quadriplegic as a result of the devastating incident in her bedroom. She and her fiancée married eventually and one day Renee asked him why he married her in her condition. His answer was very simple: he told her he married his best friend because he loved her, yes he loved her inner beauty, who she was inside. You see those quality's didn't die, didn't become paralyzed, they were there and would be forever and that's the reason he married her. I wonder how many situations like this would culminate in a separation. His love was without conditions, without expectations of what would never be for the two of them. As far as I know they are still joined together in a beautiful and blessed relationship with a family. Renee never lost her faith in God; she is truly one of life's great testimonies. If all marriages were based on that kind of love there would be no divorces; we would have widows or widowers but no divorces.
When he told Renee he married his best friend I couldn't help but to immediately call my granddaughter and begged her to buy Renee's book which I said I'd pay for (a little motivation), because she was in a relationship that I thought would be trouble for her in the future. He was a very controlling person and they always mean trouble. I knew she was a virgin and the relationship wasn't based on sex. After she read Renee's book and realized they weren't best friends after all. I am so happy she realized a little pain now avoids bigger pains later. My wife, Bunny, and I are so fortunate to have two fine daughters-in-law and happy marriages. The reason I mention this is because I really didn't have the proper advice for my two sons before they got married. However we did have the Lord who was and is always watching over us. God gave me a wonderful gift fifty-five years ago; Bunny has the kind of inner beauty that holds a marriage together, thank God.
The bottom line for anyone contemplating marriage is be sure you will be marrying your best friend. And remember no matter how calm the ocean may appear to be from a distance, if you are in storm-like waters presently I don't encourage you to take the voyage. There might be a hurricane out there.
In conclusion we should understand Jesus redeemed and raptured the Church (us) because He loved us without conditions. Once we are 'married,' if you will, to Him we are assured there will never be a divorce. We can look to John:16: "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." Eternal life is forever and we cannot be lost once we accept Jesus as our personal Savior. The Bible is replete with support for this.
When we are married we should make every attempt to apply the same kind of commitment to our marriage. We are to love, respect and honor our vows of staying together through all kinds of adversity. When two people are best friends before they marry, when they know each other's qualities, the odds of overcoming adversity increase tremendously. Next to love is forgiveness and married people must be prepared to forgive. God; and only God is perfect.
Nicholas Del Sesto
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