Why Marriage?

Love is nothing. This was the sentiment of a famous actress who had gone through five or six marriages, plus many affairs. None of her relationships gave her the romantic love and happiness she expected, because she broke the inexorable, invisible laws of godly marriage!

When I say “inexorable laws,” I’m talking about laws that produce results—blessings for obedience, curses for disobedience. Inexorable can be defined as “cannot be influenced by persuasion or entreaty; that cannot be altered or checked.” You can’t stop God’s laws of marriage from taking effect!

One billionaire said he would trade his fortune for just one happy marriage. He, like the actress, had also experienced plenty of marital failure and hardship. What he said is absolutely right: One happy marriage is greater than a trillion dollars. All the money in the world cannot buy a happy marriage—it is priceless.

Our predecessor, Herbert W. Armstrong, proved how to enjoy a stupdendous and wonderful marriage. His writings about the subject were based on the Bible. He wrote in Why Marriage—Soon Obsolete?:

There can be no more wonderful physical blessing in this mortal human life than a happy marriage, based on true love, honor, integrity and faithfulness—especially when there are growing children to love, care for, teach and rear in the nurture and admonition of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Mr. Armstrong later asked, “Can you grasp this colossal truth?”

The Creator of Marriage

Mr. Armstrong went back to the origin of marriage. He also explained the purpose of this divine institution. This truth is overlooked by science, education and even religion in our society. There’s more depth to it than you can imagine. Anyone who studies this with an open mind will be inspired.

About half of all marriages end in divorce. Specific marriages are failing, and even the custom of marriage itself is being seriously questioned! This never would have happened 60 or 70 years ago. So, as Mr. Armstrong asked, Is marriage on the way out?

Mr. Armstrong explained the major reason experts of the world don’t grasp the true origin of marriage: They are steeped in the theory of evolution. Isn’t that shocking? Evolution destroys marriage. Only the Bible tells the truth about marriage, and the Bible and evolution are at war. He wrote:

But let’s face it. Let’s be honest with the question. Isn’t it a bit irrational that science has never proved the theory of evolution, yet believes it—as a faith? And, further, that science has never disproved the existence of the all-intelligent personal Being—the Creator God—whose existence is proved and provable? And yet, with few exceptions, scientists refuse even to consider the possibility of the supernatural in their postulates.

Evolution is nothing more than a faith. It will always be just a theory. The majority of scientists believe it without any proof! Not everyone is willing to consider this fact. I’m writing for those who are.

The great Creator of marriage, disowned but not disproved by modern science, issues a challenge to the skeptics: “I am the Lord, and there is none else, there is no God beside me …” (Isaiah 45:5). Critics are welcome to try to undermine God’s existence and authority, but they will fail every time.

“I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear” (verse 23). God guarantees that every atheist and agnostic will eventuallybend the knee. He will force them to admit He exists and is in charge.

“Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure: … I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it” (Isaiah 46:10-11). God can do this. No human can.

“[C]onsider and agree, that the Eternal’s hand has done it, that Israel’s Majesty has made it all. Now, the Eternal cries, bring your case forward, now, Jacob’s King cries, state your proofs. Let us hear what happened in the past, that we may ponder it, or show me what is yet to be, that you may watch how it turns out; yes, let us hear what is coming, that we may be sure you are gods; come, do something or other that we may marvel at the sight!—why, you are things of naught, you can do nothing at all!” (Isaiah 41:20-24; Moffatt translation).

God scoffs at arrogant humans who claim to know more than Him! The Prophet Isaiah recorded the above statement over 2,000 years ago, and yet every prophecy God has made has been proved true in the millennia since. Every single one!

“Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance: behold, he taketh up the isles as a very little thing. And Lebanon is not sufficient to burn, nor the beasts thereof sufficient for a burnt offering. All nations before him are as nothing; and they are counted to him less than nothing, and vanity. To whom then will ye liken God? or what likeness will ye compare unto him?” (Isaiah 40:15-18).

Just read and believe these passages! No interpretation necessary!

The God Kind

Before God created man, He created animals “after their kind” (Genesis 1:20-25). Do you see why the biblical account of creation conflicts with evolution? Evolution and the Bible can’t coexist.

“And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them” (verses 26-27).

Notice the difference between human and animal reproduction: Animals reproduce after their kind while humans reproduce after the God kind! Only humans are made in the image and likeness of God—His character and appearance, respectively. Animals don’t look like God, but we do! Man isn’t the highest of the animals because he isn’t an animal at all.

The unique creation of humans ties in very closely with marriage and family. God is a Family. In Genesis 1, the word for God is “Elohim,” a noun singular in form but plural in meaning—like “family” or “church.” The God Family currently consists of God the Father and Christ the Son. Soon, they will bring many sons to glory.

Animals don’t marry. No wonder we can’t find the origin of marriage by examining animals and evolution. Angels don’t marry either (Matthew 22:30). Only humans can marry and have families like God!

Marriage is a God-plane relationship. Physical marriage is a type of God’s loyal people marrying Jesus Christ and helping Him rule in the World Tomorrow.

Marital Bliss

In Why Marriage—Soon Obsolete?, Mr. Armstrong wrote:

Marriage soon to become obsolete? Never!

On the contrary, the only humans left in existence after God’s master plan has finally worked out His purpose here below will be those made immortal and divine, living for eternity in the happy, blissful, family union that is the life of the everliving God!

Can you grasp this colossal truth?

I have given you, here, the greatest, most precious and valuable truth you can ever know.

This is the good news of the coming Kingdom, or Family, of God! It is the best news you could ever hear!

“And man’s potential—the very purpose of human life—is that man, born again—born of God—born into the God Family—may enjoy that blessed marriage and family life in blissful happiness forever!” (ibid). This is what we really look forward to—a blissful family life that lasts forever.

Sexual sins rob mankind of fun, joy and bliss, breaking the inexorable laws of marriage. That’s the brutal truth. God’s laws lead to a thrilling life. Do you believe that?

God’s laws for marriage lead to stable families, stable nations and a stable world! That’s our future! “Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready” (Revelation 19:7). Physical marriage prepares God’s loyal people for spiritual marriage to Christ. The rest of mankind will be our spiritual children.

Remember what Mr. Armstrong said: “I have given you, here, the greatest, most precious and valuable truth you can ever know.”