Cartoonology. There is great theology in cartoons and comics.
A man was driving his Model T Ford down a rutty road when it stopped. He worked on it for hours, but could not get it running. After a long while, another man came along in his Model T. He stopped and inquired if he could help. “No use”, said the frustrated driver. “I have tried everything possible; it just won’t start.” The passerby persisted. The man invited him to give it a try. Within a few minutes, the passerby had the car running. The frustrated driver was astonished but very grateful. “What’s your name”, he asked. “Henry Ford”, he responded.
Henry Ford knew how to fix a broken down Model T, because he had designed and built it. The same is true with God. He designed marriage. It is His very first institution (Genesis 1:26-28). He wrote the repair manual on it, and He is the expert.
By the time most couples seek out counseling for their marriage, it is often too late to save it. They have already decided to get divorced and just want someone to tell them it’s OK. Most of the time, they have ignored the “Builder and Repairman” of marriage. One, or both, left God out. They will tell you they have tried everything, when in fact they have failed to try the only proven thing.
The Apostle Paul had a word from God about marriage.
Ephesians 5:22-33 (NKJV)
22 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.
23 For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body.
24 Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.
25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her,
26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word,
27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.
28 So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself.
29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church.
30 For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones.
31 "For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh."
32 This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
33 Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.
Did you notice that Paul compares the relationship between marriage partners to the relationship between Jesus His church (V. 32)? Jesus considers Himself to be the Bridegroom and the church His bride.
Revelation 21:9 (NKJV)
9 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came to me and talked with me, saying, "Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb's wife."
The Old Testament writers conveyed the same idea.
Isaiah 54:5 (NKJV)
5 For your Maker is your husband, The Lord of hosts is His name; And your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel; He is called the God of the whole earth.
Since the divorce rate in America is 50% or more (even among Christians), it appears we’d better start calling on the Master Designer. Please don’t wait too late. 02-12-09
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