Glued Together by Whom?

© 2022 by Tom Boynton (editing by Kathy Boynton)

Kathy and I have a long pipeline carrying water from the water supply company to our house.  I glued these pipes together when I installed them.  If any pipe joint comes apart or breaks, water will gush out defeating the entire pipeline’s purpose.

God designed marriage as a glue to join husband and wife so that, together, they remain intact under pressure.  Today, many prefer “trial marriages.”  They reject the irrevocable lifetime vows of mutual faithfulness which characterize real marriage.  When Kathy and I were married, we promised to remain faithful, throughout life, “for better or for worse.”  During the last 53 years, we have understood that our marriage vows were more than just vows to each other.  They were vows to God, Himself.

Consider the union between any two pipes in our water system.  What if I had decided to test the system before actually gluing them together?  This would be like a trial marriage.  I guarantee that if I had done this, the whole system would have failed once pressure was applied.  When I glued the pipes together, they became irrevocably united as a conduit.  God, who established marriage, describes the necessity of this kind of glue in marriage.

“Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;  That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,  That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.  So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.  For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.  For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.  This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.” (Ephesians 5:25-31)

Notice that human marriage is actually an illustration of something even more awesome and holy.  If a couple, bound by a true marriage commitment, later decides to abolish that commitment, they blaspheme God Himself.  As an illustration of God’s eternal commitment to His church, they declare Him to be unfaithful.  They also do serious damage to themselves.  Have you ever tried to separate two pipes which have been glued together?  Neither pipe survives such a separation without serious damage.  Trial marriages can only bring God’s judgment.  Jesus said:

“Whosoever putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth adultery: and whosoever marrieth her that is put away from her husband committeth adultery.”  (Luke 16:18)

What kind of “marriage” do you favor?

 

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