MARRIAGE, THE HUMAN RELATIONSHIP THAT OFFERS THE GREATEST JOY AND SATISFACTION AVAILABLE TO MANKIND, AND OF ALL HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS IT OFFERS, JUST BY LIVING THE TRUTH, THE ABILITY TO REFLECT FOR ALL THE WORLD TO SEE THE GREATEST, ENDURING HEAVENLY REALITIES.
First: A little something about the author: I really see myself as of extremely little importance here other than that by God's grace revelation of His wonders have been shown to me. For at this moment in time I am the human source of the understanding that will in this article be made available. This understanding is for you to take to yourself and use to add knowledge to yourself, and implement that knowledge unto your personal good, the good of your marriage, and in so doing honor the God of heaven. In the future you'll find that we'll add other writings to this blog, and I think that time will show that you'll find them very interesting and , I guess I should add, they'll be very controversial. For the purer the truth of God is, the more it is held in controversy in the world.
Secondly: Below you'll find a list of the major points of this article. I list them so that you can have an idea upfront where we are going. For when we take a trip, don't we like to have both an idea of where we're going, and how we're going to get there? Please keep in mind that when ever we obtain valuable and interesting knowledge that it leads to the desire for more. So, by God's grace that is what tomorrow is for. There will be future articles, and they will answer questions, and in so doing raise even more questions. But I trust in the answering of questions, the which we will do a lot of, that it will add up to your personal, marriage, and family joy. At the same time bring forth the testimony of Christ and His purposes.
First: A little something about the author: I really see myself as of extremely little importance here other than that by God's grace revelation of His wonders have been shown to me. For at this moment in time I am the human source of the understanding that will in this article be made available. This understanding is for you to take to yourself and use to add knowledge to yourself, and implement that knowledge unto your personal good, the good of your marriage, and in so doing honor the God of heaven. In the future you'll find that we'll add other writings to this blog, and I think that time will show that you'll find them very interesting and , I guess I should add, they'll be very controversial. For the purer the truth of God is, the more it is held in controversy in the world.
Secondly: Below you'll find a list of the major points of this article. I list them so that you can have an idea upfront where we are going. For when we take a trip, don't we like to have both an idea of where we're going, and how we're going to get there? Please keep in mind that when ever we obtain valuable and interesting knowledge that it leads to the desire for more. So, by God's grace that is what tomorrow is for. There will be future articles, and they will answer questions, and in so doing raise even more questions. But I trust in the answering of questions, the which we will do a lot of, that it will add up to your personal, marriage, and family joy. At the same time bring forth the testimony of Christ and His purposes.
1--- CAN MARRIAGE REALLY BRING GREAT JOY?, AND CAN MY LIFE, JUST BY GETTING THE ISSUES OF MARRIAGE AND OF LIFE RIGHT, REALLY ADD UP TO A FULL AND ACCURATE ILLUSTRATION OF THE DIVINE ONE, AND HIS PURPOSES?
2---HOW DO YOU, THE AUTHOR, KNOW THIS?
3---THE FULL SCOPE OF MARRIAGE IS A GREAT MYSTERY, BEING MORE FULLY UNVEILED EACH DAY TO THOSE THAT FEAR GOD
4--- WHAT DO YOU MEAN THAT TO KNOW AND PRACTICE THIS WILL BRING GLORY AND JOY INTO MY LIFE?
5---ONCE ONE BEGINS TO UNDERSTAND THE GREATER PICTURE IT IS FAR EASIER TO EACH DAY TAKE THE SMALLER ISSUES OF LIFE AND MAKE THEM CONFORM TO THE GREATER OVERALL PURPOSE OF GOD CONCERNING THAT PERSON'S LIFE AND MARRIAGE. IT WILL ALSO LEAD TO TRUE and COMPLETE SATISFACTION, AND A DEEP ABIDING SENSE OF WALKING WITH GOD and DOING HIS PURPOSE IN the WORLD.LET US BEGIN
1--- Can marriage bring you great joy and satisfaction? It is my testimony to you that marriage was designed by the Almighty One to, among other things, do just that. He wishes that our lives be filled with joy and satisfaction! Two points of the very statement that was just made are in my mind extremely basic to your joy and satisfaction in both life and marriage. First of all, that we were created. Thus saying, if we have been created and are not just products of chance as many would promote, then the One that created us must by basic logic have purpose in our lives. For even among men, who would create something without a purpose for it? Men do not spend time, energy, thought, finance, (in short a portion of their lives) to create anything unless they view it as having purpose. If a man creates something, he will demand a return of one sort or another from that thing that he created. How much more does the Almighty Creator have purpose in His highest of all natural things? He created us with purpose, and that purpose must be understood and pursued to have a full life. The second thought expressed in the first sentence that I wish to comment on is that our joy and satisfaction in marriage is not the only purpose for God creating both mankind and marriage. People are forever (until they can be taught by God to be differently than this) self centered. The first purpose for mankind being created, and thus living upon the earth, is not for us to be happy! Or that our lives be "fulfilled" or " happy". It is for us to glorify God with our lives. This is the most basic purpose in which all humankind was created. Until we align ourselves with this knowledge we have little hope of enduring joy and satisfaction in either life or marriage. But I say to you, it is entirely possible to be aligned with the Creator and have the joy and satisfaction of His presence in your life, marriage, family, and all that you do.
2--- How can I, or anyone else know that the bottom line purpose for all human life is to Glorify God with our lives? This knowledge has been known among men from the beginning. The Westminster Larger Catechism of 1649 said it this way, “Man's chief and highest end is to glorify God, and fully to enjoy him forever”. John the Beloved expressed after having seen a vision of heaven that certain of those that sit before the throne of God, and who cease not to say these words. “Thou are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure (which is equal to purpose) they are, and were created.” Jesus Christ, the man that the Bible teaches to be all God, yet all man, in His prayer to the Father said it this way. “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” Enoch, the seventh from Adam. It was said of him that he knew God in such a way that God took him from this life without having experienced death. So for me to say that you can know God, and His purpose for your life, and that this can culminate in the greatest of joy in both life and marriage is completely mine to say. For in doing so I stand on the foundation of a multitude of believers that history teaches me testified of knowing God, and the actions of their lives bore witness to this. Also, the very witness of God's Spirit testifies to me that He calls all to know Him. For He would have all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth. And in the truth there is joy unspeakable, and much glory.
3--- You were created, whether you are male or female to be the reflection of God and His purposes in the earth. All that is about you, your body, your soul (intellect, emotion, and will) and your very spirit was made after the similitude of God, thus made to reflect both Him and His purposes. More specifically, the male person was made to illustrate God Himself. The female person was made to be a direct reflection of that which is most valued of God, and that is the church, or the individual believer. This knowledge, and the understanding of how to live this out, is what the apostle Paul spoke of in Ephesians chapter five, verses 22 – 33. There he spoke of the marriage relationship. The apostle said that the marriage relationship was to be likened unto Christ and the church. He said that this is a great mystery which can only be revealed and understood by the Holy Spirit. The points of the understanding of how the male (man or husband) is a natural living illustration of God Himself, and the female (woman or wife) is the natural living illustration of the church, or the believer, (the believer being the single individual element of the church) are far to many to be spoken of now in this article. None the less I will list a very brief set of examples. ---- As Christ is Savior to the Church the man is called to be a savior to his wife.----As Christ is Lord (head) over the Church the man is called to be lord over his wife.----As the seed of God (1 Peter 1:23) is sown into the church and new birth comes forth,(a new born again soul) so the seed of the husband is sown into the body of the wife to bring forth new life.----As a new born believer drinks of the sincere milk of the Word (meaning scripture, 1 Peter 2:2) even so a natural mother shares the milk of her breasts that her child might live and grow. As a natural husband is the instigator of the relationship, in like manner it is Christ who calls all from the world unto Himself. Remember, He saught us first, it was not we who first saught Him. We are the sponders, He is the instigator. Please know that there are very many, and very important ways in which it can be revealed to your understanding of how we are created to in our persons, and in marriage, to reflect the Almighty and His purposes. Let it suffice to say that the understanding, and thus the proper application of these truths will lift, empower, and direct any life and marriage no matter how far off coarse it may be. For Jesus said, “you shall know the truth and the truth shall set your free.” In the most simple terms I will say that man and woman are the highest natural living picture of God and His purposes. And that if you will give yourself to discover and implement this knowledge it will bring a glory and joy into your life that are beyond words.
4--- What do I mean when I say to know and practice this will bring glory and joy into your life? I will endeavor to give both direction and definition. First of all, although I know this is not popular with very many in this generation I must say to you that to know and practice this truth you must first know the God who created you to live this truth. In simple Bible terms that means that you must be saved, or born again. Which in the very simplest terms I know means that you must turn from doing life your way, and cry out to God in the name of Jesus asking for forgivness of your wayward ways, setting your faith upon Him that He forgive your sin, and cause you to be born of the Holy Spirit into His family. You can do this any where and at any time when His conviction is upon your heart. However, you must mean it..or it will not work! But if you mean it, and believe, then He will never leave you. What do I mean by glory? In this world glory is offered: recognition, the praise of men, titles, etc.. I am not saying this is evil necessarily, but if it isn't for the sake of Jesus in world then it will be found empty in time. The praise of man always does. The glory fades. But the glory from above is a work of the Holy Spirit. When we connect with His truth and abide in it, this glory comes into us, and abides upon us. Its a glory that is a gift from God by the Holy Spirit where you can stand up, even in the worst of times and know that you are something, and that your life is adding up big time for something more important than can be humanly imagined. I'd trade the glory that men offer for this glory anytime. Now the joy I speak of is very similar. Men and women in the world who live after their own dictates and are not obedient to God's laws: liars, thieves, fornicators, adulterers, blasphemers, improperly divorced, gossips, etc, etc, these people can know certain joy. There is no doubt about that. In fact sin itself has pleasure, but when it lifts you up high on one hand, it will cast you down very low on the other hand. But the Joy from above, when one learns to walk in cooperation with God's laws and purposes (in other words, in Christ) there will be a joy that is beyond description. For it will defy all human explanation. For it will work even in the darkest hours of your life. I say to you, know God, and keep all His commandments by the Holy Spirit, and you will know His glory and joy in your life and marriage. Check out Romans 8:29-30 and 1 Peter 1:8.
5---The greater picture is that God created you to be a living mortal illustration of all the dynamics of the eternal divine relationship between He and His Bride (the Church). In His infinite wisdom and power He create the male person, who grows to be a man, and in most cases marries, to be a mortal illustration of Himself, and how He deals with the Church. He made the female person, who grows to womanhood and who will in most cases marry, to be a mortal illustration of how the Church (Christ's bride) is to respond to the Heavenly Bridegroom. So in short the study and application of all that Christ is and does will be a pattern for manhood. The study and application of all that the Church is directed to be and do will serve as a pattern for womanhood. So by implementing this simple, (but very deep) strategy you can face life and marriage one day and issue at a time, all the while knowing that (for you can see it in the picture of Christ and the Church) all your efforts are adding up to something more than you had before. I say this in regards to both your present natural marriage and the hope of that heavenly marriage experience that is yet to be fully experienced, which is spoken of in Revelation 19:7. When Christ takes the final step to make those that prepared themselves to be His bride. So I say to you once you know the greater picture it is far easier to each day take the smaller issues of life and make them conform to the greater overall purpose of God for your life and marriage, and bring true and complete satisfaction and a deep abiding sense of walking with God, and doing His purpose in the world. Amen!
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