Marriage: Heaven and Hell

Caught a snatch of a discussion on BBC Radio 4 Today programme about marriage this morning. It centred around research that showed the decline in people who marry young and stay married - childhood sweethearts for life - but quickly became much more general.

At one point, one of the panellists TV agony aunt Denise Robertson said this:

"A good marriage is the nearest thing we get to heaven on earth. A Bad marriage is the nearest thing to hell."

How true. On two different levels. Having supported several friends through messy and painful divorces, I have glimpsed the agony, stress and torture of a marriage gone wrong. And having known many strong, loving committed marriages - both Christian and non-Christian - I can testify that these relationships can be truly beautiful things.

But her statement is true on a much deeper level. Denise has had, in her own words: "three happy marriages". She has been widowed twice. She has experienced more than most the reality of that most practical and chilling phrase in the wedding ceremony: "...'til death us do part."

And the temporary nature of the most delightful, fulfilling, or most horrific and painful of all human relationships, points us beyond the here and now to marriage's greater meaning, revealed in the Bible. Of a divine bridegroom's love, commitment and self giving for his bride. Of the bride's love and devotion to her truly perfect husband. Of the grandest of wedding feasts planned since before the world began. Of a honeymoon that will last forever.

"I am talking about Christ and the church..." (Ephesians 5:32)

Every person you meet has an instant visual aid for the gospel in every good and bad marriage they have known.