Marriage by Design

At the foundation of society, marriage stands alone as the cornerstone upon which we rise or fall. In recent decades, we’ve suffered the consequences of devaluing this most fundamental institution. As we have grown to see marriage as, at best, a tradition or, at worst, an old fashioned and inconvenient notion, the world around us has felt the ripples of destruction eating away at all that supports the world in which we live. When we pause long enough to consider the importance of marriage, we’re left with a seemingly perplexing dilemma. We vaguely recognize that a healthy marriage is to be desired, and perhaps even, pursued, but we quickly realize that conventional wisdom is completely lacking in any effective guidance for those whose quest is a sound marital relationship. Sadly, it seems to never enter our minds to consult the One who created the institution.
In the Book of Genesis, God’s Word describes the extreme care by which God created marriage. It was no random joining of opposites, and it was no merging of compatible individuals. Instead, the Omnipotent Creator demonstrated His infinite attention to detail as He intentionally constructed a relationship that would mirror the relationship that Jesus would have with His Church. The Heavenly Father designed a relationship that would serve as the foundation for the world He has just spoken into existence. As the key institution in His creation, He certainly would not leave marriage as a loosely defined agreement between parties. Instead, He recorded the plan for marriage clearly in His Word. It is God’s design for marriage.
When we look at marriage and begin to see what it can be and what it is intended to be, we can see that a stable husband and wife relationship is obtainable. It is within reach, and the Father beckons us to pursue this most intimate of all blessings. He promises to sustain us and guide us as we pursue His plan for our union.
In the chapters that follow, we won’t contemplate the collective wisdom of contemporary relationship experts. We won’t examine statistics, explore opinions or relive the anecdotes from other couples. Our journey together will focus on the only reliable source of guidance-God’s Word. We will seek to understand how our Father intended us to enjoy this relationship, Marriage by Design.