THE HOUSE BUILT UPON THE ROCK (Part 2)

We must teach our children the truths in the Bible, the Word of God.  The only true foundation that our lives can be built upon is the Bible.  Psalm 119:89 states, “Forever, O LORD, Your word is settled in heaven (NKJV).”  Psalm 78:4&7 reads, “We will not hide these truths from our children, but will tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the LORD; so each generation can set its hope anew on God, remembering His glorious miracles and obeying His commands (From Biblical Calligraphy by Timothy R. Botts).

Today I would like to talk about the covenant of marriage.  What is the importance of marriage and what does it mean to God?  Why is it important to teach our children and youth about this covenant?  We must first examine what the Bible has to say about it.  Genesis 2:24 states, “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh (NKJV).”  Hebrews 13:4 states, “Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge (NKJV).  In these passages God makes two things very clear.  The first is that marriage is a relational and sexual union between one man and one woman.  Secondly, sexual relations outside of the marriage covenant are forbidden by God.  This means having sex with anyone who is not your spouse, or having sex with someone else’s spouse is forbidden by God.  Fornication also encompasses sexual activity between two people of the same biological gender:  men with men and women with women.  God is not trying to ruin people’s fun, or set up a set of rules that no one can follow.  Conversely, He is trying to spare people from the pain and brokenness that comes from a lifestyle of indulgence and promiscuity.  He is trying to protect people from all of this with His love and protection over their lives.

The Biblical meaning of the word, covenant, is an agreement which brings about a relationship of commitment between God and His people.  The faith of the Israelites in the Old Testament was based upon the biblical covenants made with Abraham, Moses and David.  This principle of covenant extends into the New Testament which highlights the New Covenant that Jesus, the Son of God, enacted when He died on the cross for our sins, rose from the dead and subsequently ascended into heaven.  When we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we become children of God, and joint heirs with Jesus of all of the promises of the New Covenant.  Second Corinthians 1:20 states, “For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us (NKJV).”

It is important to teach our children about the covenant of marriage, because it is not just an agreement or contract between two people, a man and a woman, that can be broken at the whim of one or both parties.  It is a relationship of commitment first to God, and secondly to both parties of the covenant.  The man who commits to the marriage covenant, agrees to commit himself first to God, and secondly to the woman that he marries.  It is a sacred covenant that God instituted in Genesis 2:24.  The woman likewise commits herself first to God, and secondly to the man that she marries.  In Matthew 19: 4-6, Jesus states, “Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So then, they are no longer two but one flesh.  Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate (NKJV).”

Jesus emphasizes that at the beginning God made them male and female.  Secondly He emphasizes that only one man and one woman were permitted by God to enter into this relational and sexual union.  In this age of compromise and confusion, children and young people are taught that they can engage in sex outside of the marriage covenant, and that they can engage in it with someone of the opposite sex or someone of the same sex.  If they are unhappy with their biological gender, they can decide to transition into the opposite gender.  They are also taught that there is no absolute truth!  To our secular society, truth is what each person believes or feels that it is to them.  People say, “That is your truth, but it isn’t my truth.”  This makes it impossible for anyone to be able to determine what the truth is.  Without absolute standards of truth, our society becomes nothing but chaos and anarchy!  As Christians, we hold to the Bible as the source of absolute truth, and the standard and guide for how we conduct our lives.  Children and youth must be taught this.  In John 17:3 Jesus states, “And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent (NKJV).”

I would like to digress at this point and say that I have known a number of people who have struggled with their sexual identity, and have experienced gender confusion.  I know how difficult the struggle can be.  I have known people in the gay and lesbian lifestyle as well.  I have great compassion for these people and would never condemn them.  I know that Jesus understands what they are going through.  The good news is that He alone can set them free and really heal them of this problem!!!  I have yet to meet a truly happy, gay, lesbian or transgender person.  Deep inside they all know that something is very wrong!  We must teach our youth and children the truth, and we must help those caught in this trap to be set free.  Jesus loves you unconditionally, and Jesus alone can heal you! He has done it for many who were formally part of the gay, lesbian and transgender community.

PRAYER

Dear Heavenly Father, we ask you to reveal to those reading this blog that the Bible is true.  That Jesus is truly the Son of God who loved them so much that He died on the cross for their sins and rose from the grave.  Heavenly Father, I ask you to draw people to Jesus and reveal His love for them.  Let them know that He desires to have a relationship with them.  Reveal Yourself to those who are involved in sex outside of the marriage covenant, and that Your way of doing things is much more rewarding than what they are currently experiencing.  Reveal Yourself to those struggling with their sexual identity, and those involved in the gay, lesbian and transgender lifestyles. Help them to experience Your Father love for them, and to experience Jesus’ love for them.  Let them know that there is truly a way out of their lifestyle., and that they can experience a life of freedom, love joy and peace in a relationship with Jesus Christ.  I pray all of this in Jesus name.  Amen.