(Genesis 2:24)
God's plan for marriage is summed up
this way, one man, one woman, one lifetime. Let me encourage those of you
who have not been married and are still waiting on God's perfect timing for
your lifetime mate. This is the plan God had for a man and woman as set
forth in the Bible. It is not even debatable to talk about any other kind
of relationship, because God clearly lays out HIS plan in the Word, and
anything else is a perversion of that plan. Based on the divorce rate and
percentage of people who engage in premarital sex, one man, one woman, one
lifetime may seem unrealistic in today's society. However, the perversion
of God's plan for marriage is evident throughout history, and detailed in
the Bible from the Old through the New Testament. That perversion DOES NOT
make God's plan any less true. As a matter of fact, it is only following
God's plan that it really works. One man, one woman, one lifetime means no
divorce. The family and our society have been greatly damaged by the ever
increasing divorce rate from the mid-60's through today. One man, one
woman, one lifetime means you don't engage in premarital sex. For those
moments of pleasure, the pain and consequences are evident in broken and
scarred lives. One man, one woman, one lifetime works because this is how
God designed it, with the best interest of His children in mind.
Let me take a second to address those who have not been able to follow God's
plan. Many who read this devotional have already been through divorce in
their life. Many have already had multiple sexual partners. In many cases,
all of this happened before you came to know Christ as your personal Savior.
Does this mean you should give up? No! What this does mean, though, is that
from this point forward, you should try to follow God's plan. It is the
only way you will be in His will and able to know the fullness of His
blessings in your life. What you have done in your past is behind you. You
can't change that. You need to take some time to repent, ask God's
forgiveness, but then move forward. God said in His Word that if we confess
our sins, He will forgive us and cleanse us of all unrighteousness. That is
His promise. Seek His forgiveness and move on. However, you need to now be
aware of what God expects from your life and work towards following His
plan. For those who have been through a divorce, breaking up with multiple
partners, I do not have to tell you the pain and heartache and lifetime
consequences involved. You know first-hand why God's plan is by far the
best and why it works.
Many reading this today will dismiss these words as nice, but not realistic.
That is straight from the pits of hell itself. It is VERY realistic. The
world has perverted God's plan for marriage too long, and it is time to tell
people the truth. It works God's way; it will never work any other way.
This Devotional today is a warning to those yet unmarried, those yet who can
still follow God's plan for marriage in their life. If you don't believe
God, talk to someone who has been through a divorce. Talk to those who have
had multiple intimate relationships. Let them tell you first-hand the pain,
heartache and consequences. Then talk to those who have listened faithfully
to God. Those who have followed His plan of one man, one woman, one
lifetime. This devotional is also meant to encourage those who have failed
to follow this plan in their life. It is not too late. God loves you, and
while you will always have to deal with the consequences of your past
actions, you can do it God's way from here on out. The Bible talks about
having a life of abundance. My friend, that life is only possible when you
follow God's plan in all areas of your life, including His plan for
marriage.
I love you and care about you deeply. I will be praying today that these
words will find fertile resting place in your heart. It should be a
challenge to you. When you pray, ask God for the wisdom and strength to
live according to His plan for your life. God will honor your commitment to
Him. Let your life be a living testimony to this lost and sin-filled world
that there is a better way. The greatest testimony you have is not the
things you say, but how you live. Let those around you notice how different
your life is, how better your life is, because you have chosen to follow
Him.
