What do you think is the most difficult Bible topic to teach? For me, it’s the topic of divorce. The mere mention of the word causes discomfort in many people. Why?
Divorce is destructive and devastating in the lives of those it touches. I have lived through a lot in my short 37 years but the worst of it all was living through my parent’s divorce. If it was terrible for me, I can’t even imagine what it was like to have been my parents.
It affected my grandparents, other relatives and all of the friends of my mom and dad. There was all of the usual: villainization of parties, choosing of sides, changing of living arrangements, changing of schools, division of siblings, terrible words and justifications.
It’s no wonder that God says in Malachi 2:16
“For I hate divorce,” says the Lord, the God of Israel…
At its core, divorce is the anti-gospel message. Imagine God saying this,
“You have not obeyed my commands. You have betrayed Me. I gave you a multitude of warnings, a multitude of second chances and all the while I still loved and took care of you. While I was blessing you, you were cursing Me. Enough is enough. I’m finished with you and your wicked ways. I am sending you away from Me. I am sending you to the hell you deserve. I am divorcing you.”
Do you know what’s truly amazing? We have not obeyed God’s commands. We have betrayed Him. He has given us unlimited second chances. He has taken care of us even while we were unfaithful to Him. He did say, “Enough is enough,” but that’s where the most amazing twist in the story occurs.
God, being completely sickened with the sin of His people, does not punish us, but instead provides a means by which we can be made right with Him. He does the only thing that can be done to bring us back to Him. The blame for all of my wrong goes to Jesus on the cross, his blood is shed and my relationship with God is saved.
Divorce is the tragic ending of relationship. It is the anti-gospel.
How comforting it is to me that God is so good! How wonderful that Jesus sees the church as His bride. How much does He love His bride? He died for her.
Over the next couple of weeks, as we approach the topic of divorce, let us be as kind, loving and compassionate to one another as God is to us.
Much Love,
Wes LeFlore, (918) 607-8489 or huskerwes1@gmail.com
