My husband and I just returned from a week-long cruise with Covenant Keepers, Inc, an amazing ministry to those who choose not to accept divorce as the answer to marital problems. It was a wonderful week, renewing old friendships and making new ones. The sea was refreshing, the fellowship was wonderful, and the rest and relaxation were welcome.
The thing I loved best about it, though, was to be surrounded by so many people of faith. Listening to stories of hardships and victories blessed me to the point of tears many times. These are amazing people! In a day and age when so many want to be “happy”, their life to be self-fulfilling, and want nothing to interfere with their ease it is quite a phenomenon to encounter people willing to sacrifice to remain faithful.
These are folks whose spouses do not want their marriage. They may have divorced them or chosen not to live with them, but in every case their spouse has rejected the marriage. These Covenant Keepers have decided to do just that. They are keeping their marriage covenant. They made a vow to God and to their spouse to remain faithful until death and they are holding faithfully to that vow.
It is refreshingly wonderful to be with people with that level of integrity. The Body of Christ needs the infusion of faith that their stand brings in the midst of divorce and remarriage at every turn. Yet so many of them face persecution from their own church and family. Few today understand marriage covenant (until death do us part) and most look at marriage as a contract (I will only be faithful only if you do your part).
Jesus is a powerful example of faithfulness in the face of unfaithfulness. He loves unconditionally and never leaves us or forsakes us, no matter how faithful or unfaithful we are to Him from day to day. Ephesians 5 compares marriage between a husband and a wife to the relationship of Christ and the Church. We can all be thankful that Jesus doesn’t give up on us when we disappoint Him. He is a covenant-making and a covenant-keeping God. And He is our example as a spouse when we marry.
Every day in ministry we see miracles as marriages that everyone called dead are restored and thriving by the power of the Lord! And every day we see those who give up on each other and decide to divorce. Everything in us longs to see the day when the followers of Christ on this earth are known for our faithful, unconditional love for one another! We long to see the world marvel when they “see how they love one another” and to hunger for the overcoming power that makes forgiveness and healing possible in every marriage!
For today we rejoice that there is a growing army of those who stand faithful to their marriage vows no matter what. May they be a sign and a wonder to this generation that has little idea of what marriage is supposed to be. Thank you, Covenant Keepers, for letting your light shine in the darkness! Love, Marilyn
“…when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?” Luke 18:8
