The following student report was submitted by Ambassador League Agent Luke W. during the 2009-2010 League.
Mission: Research on the Sanctity of Marriage
The Christian can understand the marital relationship because of our Teacher. The greatest marriage union is not between a man and a woman – that is a union of mortal bodies. So far beyond that is the marriage of Christ to his Bride, the Church. Where the two become one flesh, the united bodies will go from dust to dust and in Heaven there will be no marriage; we will be like the angels (Genesis 2:24; Genesis 3:19; Luke 20:35). The strongest earthly marriage can be no more unmovable than the frailty of flesh.
The marriage between Christ and the church lasts forever. An earthly union only survives as long as its matter, but the spiritual goes into eternity. The church waits for Him:
"The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep. At midnight the cry rang out: 'Here's the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!'" (Matthew 25:5-6)
Does this diminish earthly marriage? On the contrary, this view of marriage gives meaning to earthly relations and exalts our heavenly future.
As the hands and feet of Christ, we must show what it means to be His bride. He is a faithful God and His love is perfect, lacking in nothing. Our lives must reflect this:
"Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral." (Hebrews 13:4)
Purity in marriage reflects God; love in marriage shows His love. Husbands are commended to love their wives as Christ loves the church.
"Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her." (Ephesians 5:25)
All of us this can be summarized in Peter's reminder, "For it is written be holy, because I am holy" (1 Peter 1:16).
A Christian marriage finds its root in the character of Christ and thus the couple must love each other with the intensity of the love of Christ and must be faithful with His fidelity. In marriage the couple can practice for the world to come.
Communion with Christ in eternity will be infinitely more than the shadow of marriage on Earth. Solomon, a man well acquainted with women said,
"He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end." (Ecclesiastes 3:11).
The shadow of marriage is cast from the person of Christ who answers the longings of heart. The secular person marries to have their deepest desires met; they fail and divorce each other.
The Christian knows that eternity burns within his heart and that the highest object of his affections is Jesus who has taught him to love and be faithful. Love and faithfulness flows into his marriage and points the unbeliever to the Light who answers all darkness.
