I have had the blessing of having no divorces on my side of the family. My wife has had the unfortunate experience of having divorces on her side. We've both seen the destructive effects when a covenant of marriage is broken. But, is it really broken?
The Word of God tells us "the things that are seen are temporary. The things that are unseen are eternal." (2 Corinthians 4:18) While a divorce paper is very real, agreed upon by both people, and sanctioned by a judge; it is seen, and therefore temporary. It's not worth the paper it's written on! A covenant is an unseen thing, and therefore eternal. It is between God and two people, and it remains in effect until one of the spouses dies. No matter what human courts may say, the heavenly court declares: OVERRULED!
I have seen a couple that has been divorced, but still acts like they're married, while at the same time trying to prove to the world and each other just how "single" they are. What God has joined together, let no man separate! No matter how hard you try, you can't undo something eternal.
And now a word for the men: on observing this particular couple I mentioned, another person commented to me that "even after divorce, he's still whipped!". Now, this is a put-down to the man based upon the belief that a 'real man' would assert his will over a woman at all times, and if he does anything less, he's a wimp.
As I heard this statement, I began to think about the bride of Christ--the Church. We are told in Ephesians 5:25-30 " Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ loved the church and gave himself for her, in order that by cleansing her by means of the washing in water he may sanctify her through his word, so that he may present the church to himself gloriously having no spot or any such thing, but holy and blameless. In similar way husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. One who loves his wife loves himself, for no one ever hated his own flesh, but he nourishes and carefully protects, just as Christ treats the Church for we are members of his body."
....So, Jesus was whipped for His bride! "By His stripes we are healed." (Isaiah 53:5) He wasn't coerced, forced, or manipulated either. He was the truest man to ever walk the face of the earth and he declared,"No one takes my life from me. I have the power to lay it down, and I have the power to take it up again!" (John 10:18)
So, this macho "real man" stuff is a bunch of garbage. Real men lay their lives down for their wives. Real men lay their lives down for others. "Greater love has no man than this than he who lays his life down for his friend." (John 15:13)
