There are marriages in which husband and wife are becoming better friends, better partners and better expressions of God’s grace.
There is a growing darkness in the earth. What should ordinarily be the experience of a world that has rejected God and His ways is increasingly finding expression even among believers. Spiritual ignorance, moral compromise, broken values and a departure from God’s standards are becoming increasingly visible. Sadly, Christian marriages are not immune.
This is why the state of marriage in our generation should concern every believer. Marriage is not merely a social arrangement or a personal relationship. It is a sacred institution that God Himself uses to reveal the relationship between Christ and the Church. When the institution of marriage is weakened, something significant is being lost in the testimony of the Church.
Isaiah 60:2 says, “Darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples.” Yet the instruction immediately preceding this declaration is: “Arise, shine, for your light has come.”
This is the response God expects from His people in a darkening world. We are not called to retreat into the darkness, complain about it or allow it to redefine our standards. We are called to arise and shine. And one of the places where our light must shine most visibly is in our marriages.
A kingdom marriage must be built according to God’s divine blueprint, not according to the changing values of culture. The world may redefine commitment, fidelity, sacrifice and covenant, but the believer cannot afford to outsource his or her understanding of marriage to the culture. We must return to God’s Word and allow His Spirit to renew our thoughts, attitudes and behaviours.
The challenge is that darkness does not always come from outside. Jesus warned that if the light within us becomes darkness, “how great is that darkness?” The real danger is not merely the darkness around us; it is when the darkness begins to penetrate the heart of the believer.
This is why the transformation of marriage begins with the transformation of the people in the marriage.
Paul tells believers to put off the old nature and put on the new nature, which is created to be like God, truly righteous and holy. This is the foundation of a kingdom life. It is also the foundation of a kingdom marriage.
A healthy marriage cannot be sustained by romantic feelings alone. It requires righteousness, holiness, truth, forgiveness, humility, self-control and love. It requires husbands and wives who are willing to confront their flesh rather than continually justify it.
Anger, bitterness, jealousy, unforgiveness and harsh words may appear to be ordinary marital conflicts, but Scripture warns that these things give the enemy a foothold. More often than not, when you give the enemy a foothold in your life or marriage, he turns it into a stronghold. This is why the standard must be higher for us, followers of Christ.
If we are commanded to speak truthfully to our neighbours, how much more should we speak truthfully to our spouses? If we are instructed not to use abusive or destructive words, how much more should our words toward the person with whom we have become one be filled with grace and encouragement? If we are commanded to forgive one another as Christ has forgiven us, how much more should forgiveness characterise the marriage covenant?
The Word of God is not merely something we hear in church. It is supposed to permeate every dimension of our lives. This is where kingdom marriage becomes different.
A kingdom marriage is not simply a marriage between two Christians. It is a marriage that is deliberately submitted to the government, values and purposes of God. It is a marriage in which two people are continually being transformed into the likeness of Christ and allowing that transformation to shape how they love, communicate, forgive, serve and build together. And God wants these marriages to be seen.
In a generation where broken marriages are increasingly public, there must also be visible testimonies of marriages that are thriving by the grace of God. We cannot allow the negative examples around us to convince an entire generation that healthy, faithful and godly marriages are impossible.
There are beautiful marriages. There are marriages that are growing stronger with time. There are marriages in which husband and wife are becoming better friends, better partners and better expressions of God’s grace. These marriages must shine.
The Church must demonstrate to the world that God’s design still works. Young people need to see that purity is possible. Singles need to see that it is possible to be chaste until marriage. Married couples need to see that it is possible to remain faithful, overcome challenges, grow together and build something that glorifies God.
Our marriages can become signposts of God’s faithfulness. This does not mean pretending that challenges do not exist. It means refusing to make the challenges greater than God’s grace. It means believing that God can restore sweetness, love and oneness where they have been lost. It means refusing to give up on what God designed.
Ultimately, the goal is not simply to have a successful marriage. The goal is to have a marriage that glorifies God. God wants to showcase His wisdom through His people. He wants our lives to become evidence of what His grace can produce. He wants our marriages to demonstrate that His standards are not outdated, His grace is not insufficient, and His design is not impossible.
So, in this darkening age, let your marriage shine. Let your home be a place of truth. Let your words carry grace. Let your commitment reflect covenant. Let your faithfulness become a testimony. Let your children see what godliness looks like in practice. Let your marriage become a pattern that gives another generation hope. Do not let the darkness overwhelm you.
Arise. Shine. Build according to God’s blueprint. And let your marriage become a visible testimony of His grace.
Sign up for free class
It’s easy and free!
