For Keeps!

Duane Vander Klok

God said, “Therefore, shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife; and they shall be one flesh” (Genesis 2:24).

God designed marriage to be “for keeps,” and it wasn’t by accident that He used the word “cleave.” It means to “stick together like glue.”

His plan is for one man and one woman to be together – to be adhered together as if by glue (not Velcro) – for a lifetime. This requires both the man and the woman to commit themselves to each other for their entire lives. It sounds perfect, don’t you think?

But every marriage is made up of two imperfect people, and imperfect people do not make perfect marriages. However there is good news: a little bit of hope can be to your marriage what a transfusion is to someone who has lost a great deal of blood!

Remember this: all things are possible with God.

In Ephesians 1:18-20, as Paul prayed for the believers, he prayed that they would know “…what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places.”

Think about it: we are loved by a God who was able to resurrect His Son from the dead. And He makes that same resurrection power available to marriages!

“For I know the plans I have for you, “declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11 NIV).

If your marriage is not good, it can be. If it is already good, it can be even better!