ATTIRES WITHOUT CHRIST:

Jer 2:32 “Can a virgin forget her ornaments, Or a bride her attire? Yet My people have forgotten Me days without number”.

Judah's irresponsibility showed up most clearly in her forgetfulness of God's past dealings. In the same vein, so many ladies today thought they were free, independent of God. When she is searching for a life partner, she can fast for days, cried and prayed fervently for God to help her. But after she got what she wanted, she spends her time preparing for the wedding and forgets the God who gives her the husband.

    

These LADIES have not so much attachment to God as they have to their dress and ornaments. They never forget them: and even when arrived at old age, look with pleasure on the dress and ornaments which they have worn in their youth.

As a bride, you will never forget your wedding ornaments, but you have forgotten your God who gave you the husband. And you had done this days without number.    

Then the Lord seems to adopt a kind of taunting tone: "Can a maid forget her ornaments or a bride her attire?" When did either of them forget a pin, a jewel, a toy, a feather? What, a memory for little things, for dressing, for adornment, for outgoing, for public excitement! What a recollection for dates, when the date is filled up with an amusement, a new sensation! But no memory for sacrifice, for prayer, for holy sacrament, for consecrated day, for revelations from heaven, -- a memory that will hold all the fiction that ever was written, but a memory like a sieve in respect of everything that is written in the Bible! What a voice is the Lord's! How strident, how mocking! How tender, beseeching, importunate, and full of lamentation! "My people have forgotten Me days without number." Could the complaint have been stated more pensively? The very voice in which it is uttered adds to the poignancy of the distress. Who likes to be forgotten? Who likes to be the one member of the family for whom no flower is brought, for whose birthday no provision is made, for whose little wants, or great, no one cares? 

Hos 2:13 "I will punish her for the days of the Baals to which she burned incense. She decked herself with her earrings and jewelry, And went after her lovers; But Me she forgot," says the Lord.

ADORNMENT – THE MISSING INGREDIENT IN MARRIAGE:

Rev 21:2 “Then I, John,* saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, PREPARED AS A BRIDE ADORNED FOR HER HUSBAND”.

Marriage is the replica of Heaven on earth. God use marriage to reveal the beauty, glory and relationship between Christ and His Bride – the Church. The above scripture said that God prepared the New Jerusalem just as how a Bride ADORNED herself for her husband. There is always a time for preparation to have a lasting marriage.

A lot of couple spend days preparing for Wedding and only few are fully prepared for Marriage. It takes a wedding gown, cakes, sodas, photographs, bride maids, groom maids, flower girls and friends, etc to prepare for a WEDDING, but it takes ADORNMENT to prepare for a HUSBAND.

Let’s define the word “Adornment”, it means “decoration, embellishment, ornamentation, beautification, prettification, gilding, trimming, titivation, enhancement, garnishment, removing of spots and wrinkles”. The Bible said in 1 Tim 2:9-11 “…in like manner also, that the women ADORN themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing, 10 but, which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works”.

The scripture is not condemning wearing of gold and costly cloth, but with propriety and moderation. In other word, God expect every woman to keep adorning herself not only during courtship and wedding, but even after marriage. Adornment will keep the fire of love aflame. So, how adorable are you in your marriage today?

DANGERS OF DATING AND MARRYING AN UNBELIEVER:

(Ezra 9:1-12 NRSV) After these things had been done, the officials approached me and said, "The people of Israel, the priests, and the Levites have not separated themselves from the peoples of the lands with their abominations, from the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites. {2} For they have taken some of their daughters as wives for themselves and for their sons. Thus the holy seed has mixed itself with the peoples of the lands, and in this faithlessness the officials and leaders have led the way." ...Then Ezra the priest stood up and said to them, "You have trespassed and married foreign women, and so increased the guilt of Israel. {11} Now make confession to the LORD the God of your ancestors, and do his will; separate yourselves from the peoples of the land and from the foreign wives." {12} Then all the assembly answered with a loud voice, "It is so; we must do as you have said....

Wrong marriages resulted in compulsory divorces on a large scale! They sent their foreign wives away and their children (Ezra 10:3). These divorces were approved by God at the time it was a choice between two painful alternatives and divorce was seen as the lesser of the two. But it must have been very painful for all concerned. If you are going out with an unbeliever or engaged to an unbeliever then Ezra's example is for you. You need to separate from them. Absolutely, finally and quickly (2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1).

Paul addresses the problem of people who get converted as married adults in I Corinthians 7:12-16.This was the case for a large portion of the Corinthian church in the early days of Christianity. If we are married to an unbeliever at the point of our conversion and they are willing to stay we are not to divorce them. Actively killing the marriage is wrong. However, if it ends then it is not to be clung on to. The implication here is that out of God's kindness He does not ask new converts to immediately divorce their partners. He tolerates the marriage. He knows it was not a deliberate marrying of an unbeliever. They were married as unbelievers then one got converted. That is not a deliberate flaunting of God's law by the believer.

(1 Corinthians 7:12-16 NKJV) But to the rest I, not the Lord, say: If any brother has a wife who does not believe, and she is willing to live with him, let him not divorce her. {13} And a woman who has a husband who does not believe, if he is willing to live with her, let her not divorce him. {14} For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband; otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy. {15} But if the unbeliever departs, let him depart; a brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases. But God has called us to peace. {16} For how do you know, O wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, O husband, whether you will save your wife?

In a divorce situation between a unbeliever and a believer the believer is to let the unbeliever go. "Stop clinging on in hope! Let them go! Your hope for their salvation is uncertain!" is Paul's harsh message to the partner of unbelievers. There is a tremendous spiritual incompatibility and we are "called to peace". In the New Testament God does not ask Christians to divorce non-Christian partners but if they go they are free to leave. He would rather we did not marry unbelievers in the first place! This spiritual incompatibility is often intractable. God never promises that unbelieving partners will be saved. Religious conflict often results in painful separations, some before marriage and some after marriage. If you want to avoid a painful heart-wrenching separation - then only date and marry believers!

MORE REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD NEVER MARRY AN UNBELIEVER:
(2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1 NKJV) Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? {15} And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? {16} And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people." {17} Therefore "Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you." {18} "I will be a Father to you, And you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the LORD Almighty." Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

There is a negative and a positive side to this. Firstly the negative. The body of a Christian is a temple of the Holy Spirit where God dwells. (See article: "Your Body Is A temple Of The Holy Spirit"). It is inappropriate for it to be physically joined to the body of an unbeliever. It would be like building a passageway between a temple of God and temple of the Devil.

Unbelievers are not spiritually neutral. (Ephesians 2:1-3 NKJV) And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, {2} in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, {3} among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. Unbelievers are spiritually dead (v.1) . They follow the course of this world (v.2) – the downward groove. They are a controlled people who strings are pulled by "the prince of the power of the air"(v.2). At critical points Satan "pulls the strings" - it may be when you try to send them to Sunday School or arguments may always start before church. You will have someone Satan can control beside you, in your home, influencing your destiny and that of your children. The unbelievers conduct is according to a lower set of principles called "the flesh". V3. We all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind. The flesh is opposed to the Spirit (Gal 5:16,17) and the desires the unbeliever will seek to fulfill will be contrary to your highest and holiest desires. You will be in a life-long tug of war! You will probably miss out on fulfilling much that is truly wonderful and godly as a result.

While on a human level a believer and an unbeliever may love each other it is like two lines meeting at a tangent or a ships crossing at sea. They are driven by such fundamentally different principles that there can be no life-long agreement. The difference is between the principles of righteousness and lawlessness, light and darkness, Christ and Belial, the temple of God and the temple of idols. The incompatibility is absolute, basic, and vast .

The Bible, which is God's will and Word does not see compromise as a possibility here. The call is to separation. The positive side is that those who separate will be blessed. As God has said: "I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people." {17} Therefore "Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you." {18} "I will be a Father to you, And you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the LORD Almighty." Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. Every call to separation from sin contains the promise of renewed intimacy with God and being his "sons and daughters". It seems that God really appreciates it when people make this sort of a stand for Him. He is not an aloof and demanding deity. Your separation from an unbeliever will receive God's reward, blessing, approval and result in a deeper walk with Him.

Conclusion:
So in conclusion there are seven compelling reasons why you should not marry an unbeliever:

1. You are not immune - even the smartest wisest people can be led astray from God by unbelieving partners.
2. There is a fundamental spiritual incompatibility.
3. Because the children may go astray from God.
4. It leads to a lifetime of defeat.
5. Correcting it can result in drastic and painful separations.
6. Because of the pain it causes to other family members.
7. Because when God's judgment falls the family will be divided.

Marrying an unbeliever is not a gray area. It's not something that one Christian can do and another not do. God has said "No" therefore, you do not have a choice. If you are dating an unbeliever you should prayerfully, carefully, and gently end the relationship. If you are attracted to a non-Christian admit your attraction to God and then make sure that the relationship does not develop. If necessary avoid the person until your feelings subside. Your future marriage is incredibly important. Marry anyone you like, but only in the Lord.
 

SHE TOLD ME, "I BETTER STAY SINGLE THAN MARRY AND BE CONTROL BY A MAN":

I had a conversation with a single mother about relationships, all I hear is whining and complaining directed at the behavior of men. She never say good thing about men and promised to stay single and take care of her baby.

Many women in today's society just like the single mother I mention earlier, will say, "I don't need a man; I am fine just by myself." To them I say: No, you are not. We were not given the opportunity to experience life on earth to be happy at home by ourselves. Men in today's society will say, "I am never getting married. Marriage is for losers." But no, marriage is not for losers. I know many winners who love being married and have been married for many years.

So, why is there so much animosity and resentment among singles today? Here's the short answer to that question: It's due to the increased prevalence of both premarital sex and short-term non-monogamous "casual" sex. In previous centuries, men and women always had their share of philosophical differences related to love, sex, dating and relationships, but members of both genders generally got along. Why? Because prior to the popularity of modern day birth control methods, men and women typically waited until marriage to have sex.

And here's the longer answer: Unlike many women, the vast majority of men are not looking for sex from women within the context of a long-term, emotional, monogamous relationship. In fact, at least half of single, heterosexual men are looking for sex within the context of either: a short-term non-monogamous relationship (e.g., one-night stand, weekend fling, etc.); a short-term monogamous relationship (e.g., "sex buddies," your typical "boyfriend-girlfriend" relationship that has no chance of leading to marriage, etc.); or a long-term, non-monogamous relationship (e.g., "friends-with-benefits" relationship, any type of polyamorous relationship such as an "open marriage" or "open relationship," etc.).

Even many of the women who are not interested in engaging in frequent episodes of casual sex with men realize that a good number of men will "offer them things" in exchange for a few quick episodes of pleasurable sex. Thus, what we have is a nation full of single men and women playing "manipulative head games" with one another.

DON’T LET THE FIRE OUT OF THE FIREPLACE:

Jeremiah 5:8, “They were as fed horses in the morning: every one neighed after his NEIGHBOUR'S WIFE. Shall I not visit for these things? saith the LORD: and shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?”

In an interview with TV Guide, Gene Simmons of the devilish Rock band, Kiss, bragged that he has had sex with 4,897 women throughout his career. Would Jesus forgive such a man as Gene Simmons? Yes, absolutely! Any sin is forgivable through faith in Jesus Christ.

Adultery is a horrible sin. It is tragic that so many people take the sin of adultery lightly, making TV shows such as, CALIFORNICATION, DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES and WIFE SWAP. I once heard a preacher make a good statement, he said, “Movies don't make people commit adultery. Adulterous producers make adulterous movies that inspire adulterous people.” And so it is.

A fireplace is wonderful, warm and beautiful to look at. But if the fire gets outside of the fireplace, it'll burn your house down. That's the way your lust is. God made a fireplace. It's called marriage. God expects you to keep the fire in the fireplace. But if you let the fire out of the fireplace, it'll burn your life up!

We live in an adulterous generation whose eyes are FULL of adultery...“Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children” —2nd Peter 2:14 There is no depth of sin to which a sinner may go, but that God in His love and mercy will forgive that person if they come by way of the blood of Jesus Christ... “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” —Isaiah 1:18

I AM PREGNANT, SHOULD I MARRY HIM:

A devasted young lady met me and asked, "Pastor Jabari, If a couple gets pregnant before marriage do they have to get married? My parents are pressurising me to marry him but I am not ready". I told her, "Jochebed (not her real name), getting married as a result of an unplanned pregnancy might be the greatest mistake you ever make. Disregarding God's plan for marriage, sex, and family always results in these kinds of spiritual or physical consequences: unwanted pregnancies, abortion, and sexually transmitted diseases. God intends for sex to be an intimate expression of love and commitment, to be shared only between a husband and wife. Sex just for the physical pleasure of it damages our spirituality and pulls us away from fellowship with God.

Anyone who has made the mistake of having sex outside of marriage can be forgiven, even if the mistake results in an unplanned pregnancy. First John 1:9 says, “But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us from every wrong.” This does not mean that He will erase the consequences of our actions, but we can be restored spiritually by confessing and repenting from our sins. This means turning away from our sins and making the commitment to love and serve Christ.

There are some cases in which getting married before the baby is born would be wise. If a committed couple who was already planning to get married commits fornication which results in pregnancy, it would probably make it easier for the family and the child to marry before he or she is born. But if an uncommitted couple commits the same sin, getting married will not make them right in God's eyes. In such a situation, getting married will only set them up for marital failure. The Bible does not instruct people as to whether or not to marry under these circumstances, although both parents are still obligated to support the child emotionally, spiritually and financially".

WIFE THAT MAKES LIFE BITTER:

"When Esau was forty years old, he married Judith daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Basemath, daughter of Elon the Hittite; and they MADE LIFE BITTER for Isaac and Rebekah..."Gen. 26:34-35

"Then Isaac called Jacob and blessed him, and charged him, "You shall not marry one of the Canaanite women..."Gen. 28:1

"Now Esau saw that Isaac had blessed Jacob and sent him away to Paddan-aram to take a wife from there, and that as he blessed him he charged him, "You shall not marry one of the Canaanite women. ....So when Esau saw that the Canaanite women did not please his father Isaac, Esau went to Ishmael and took Mahalath daughter of Abraham's son Ishmael, and sister of Nebaioth, to be his wife in addition to the wives he had" Gen. 28:6, 8-9.

Esau's foreign wives "made life bitter" for his parents the quiet, godly and non-confrontational Isaac and Rebekah. Just when they should have been celebrating grandchildren they were being deeply hurt. Unbelieving partners often cause real grief to the family of the Christian partner. Their ways are just not Christian ways and Satan, with his control strings attached to their lives, can create pain, hurt and discord through them. Esau also hurt himself, he saw that his wrong marriages hurt his parents and that Jacobs godly marriage delighted them so in addition to his troublesome wives he went and took believing wives in a sad attempt to win parental blessing (Genesis 28:8,9). His original wives would have been hurt by this. So Esau's unwise marriages ended up hurting his parents, himself and his wives. Also his choice of believing partner was not altogether politic. He ended up marrying a believer from the family of Ishmael, Isaac's direct rival. Children who foolishly marry unbelievers cause their parents pain. Learn a lesson from the marriage of Esau and avoid the pitfall of marriage.

THE DANGERS OF PORNOGRAPHY TO MARRIAGE:

Pornography is a business industry just like any other, they do auditions before employing their actors. Never use pornography as a tool to teach you how to be intimate with your spouse. Porn may look innocent but it has an evil seed to wreck marriages. Reasons why you should not watch porn as couple or married person;

(Fact about men)- an average man has 12-15 centimeters penis when erect and in pornography they choose actors with super gigantic penis of 18-24 centimeters long. So if you watch porn, this may cause an unfair comparison between a normal husband and a porn star. It may put an impression on a wife that a bigger penis is the best and she is missing something. It raises a superficial appetite in a woman to want to experience a gigantic penis.

(Fact about women)- an average wife's body will deform after giving birth and age. A porn star's body is super artificial, she has done plastic surgery, put implants (breasts) and they choose very slim women. The ladies take drugs and they are able do gymnastic moves above an average woman. This raises a superficial expectation in a man's mind that for him to be satisfied her wife must be like a porn star.

This superficial expectation and appetite fueled by porn usually leads to adultery. Porn will cause your mind to believe that you are not satisfied by your spouse, this may lead to letting your guards down at a possible opportunity you meet. Porn is evil and it is a tool orchestrated by the devil to wreck marriages. Believe that your spouse is the best and there is no one better than them; be content and satisfied by your spouse and make the best out of them.

Many people do not realise the emotional and psychological dangers to children and teenagers coming from sexually explicit films. It is quit possible for children to be overstimulated sexually and suffer harmful effects from these porns later in their adult years. This is the reasons why so many can not maintain a steady marriage. As I said above, pornography creates a superficial expectation and appetite which leads to adultery because the victim can't be satisfied and longing for more.

A friend complained to me just of recent that his wife said his penis is too small and its not satisfying her. She prefer a gigantic penis and long to have one. After counseling them, I found out that the woman has been a lover of pornography. So many men today are worry about the size of their penis and go to the extend of using surgery or taking drugs just to be like the porn stars.

The Bible said that our bodies are fearfully and wonderfully made. God fashioned the female vagina to take all sizes of penise. It doesn't really matter how long or how short a male penis is, because the vagina will accommodate itself to virtually any length. The vagina of a woman who hasn't had a child is only 7.5cm (3 inches) long when she's not sexually excited. The figures for women who have had babies are only slightly different. Even when aroused, a woman's vagina usually extends only to a length of about 10cm (about 4 inches). This means any man's penis will fill her vagina completely, unless you happen to be one of those rare guys with an erect penile length of 18-24 centimeters long. You're probably now wondering how the average man with an erection of 18-24 centimeter manages to insert his penis into the vagina at all. But fortunately, the vagina has the most remarkable capacity for lengthening if something is introduced into it gradually. So, we should be grateful to God for creating us the way we are and avoid watching porn.

King David said in Ps 101:3-4 "I will set nothing wicked before my eyes; I hate the work of those who fall away; It shall not cling to me. A perverse heart shall depart from me; I will not know wickedness". NKJV. Lets fight against pornography. It is destroying God's order for marriage and sex.

BUT PORN IS NOT MENTIONED IN THE BIBLE

Somebody said to me, "Jabari, but pornography is not mention in the Bible. Therefore, it cannot be a sin". Here is my respond to him: Even though the Bible does not say anything about pornography, it is still wrong. Pornography deals with photography and/or illicit paintings and/or cartoons that are designed to arouse sexual passions in the viewer. It is certainly possible that at the time when the Bible was written that there were various art forms that depicted sexually explicit things. But apparently this phenomenon was not sufficiently prevalent enough for the subject to be addressed in the Bible. Nevertheless, we can derive an accurate conclusion from scriptures that deal with other issues and apply them to the issue of pornography.

Matt. 5:27-28, "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery'; 28 but I say to you, that everyone who looks on a woman to lust for her has committed adultery with her already in his heart."

 
1 Cor. 6:18, "Flee immorality. Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the immoral man sins against his own body."

 
Col. 3:5, "Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry."

As you can see, the Bible tells us to be sexually pure. This is why Jesus even tells us to guard our minds. Note that He said in Matt. 5:28 that to even look on a woman lustfully is to commit adultery with her. In viewing pornography, nakedness, and explicit sexual displays lust is not only given the pportunity to rise (thereby enticing since) but most often lustful passions and thoughts are triggered in the heart and mind. This is obviously sinful and clearly demonstrates that pornography is sinful. Add to this that oftentimes pornography involves viewing sexual intercourse between unmarried people, and/or homosexual and lesbian activities, and we have a very clear case of it being sinful. Even if the pornography does not involve viewing sexual intercourse between two people, it involves the viewing of naked individuals which is properly reserved for a husband and a wife.

TWO IN ONE BED: How spiritual is your partner?

"Remember Lot's wife. Those who try to make their life secure will lose it, but those who lose their life will keep it. I tell you, on that night there will be TWO IN ONE BED; one will be taken and the other left". Luke 17:32-34.

Two in one bed - the believer goes to be with the Lord at the rapture, the unbeliever stays to experience the judgment of God. Why did I include the preceding verses? Because marrying an unbeliever is a form of trying to make your life secure. Its saying "I've got to be married even if it means disobeying God! Or I've got to marry him/her even if it means disobeying God. Eventually, you will lose that partner for eternity. Your security is, in fact, very insecure. But the person who remains single until they marry "in the Lord" will be able to still be with their partner for all eternity (although there are no marriages in heaven there will certainly be much love). Then there is the strange reference to Lot and his mixed up family. Lot's family had spent so long in Sodom that many members of it had absorbed its values (Genesis 19:12-26).

While the New Testament tells us that Lot's soul was tormented day and night by what he saw (2 Peter 2:7.,8) it is clear that this did not rub off on his family. His wife ended up as a pillar of salt and a memorial to the consequences of loving this present world. His two daughters were on the brink of marrying unbelievers. These unbelievers scoffed at angels and perished in the destruction. The daughters had spent so long in Sodom and been so eroded morally by their non-Christian friendships that they later got Lot drunk and committed incest with him. (Genesis 19:30-38). The descendants of this union became the Ammonites and Moabites, perpetual enemies of Israel. When judgment came the family was shattered into fragments because it had joined itself to unbelievers and their ungodly value systems.

WHEN THE LANGUAGE OF JUDAH IS NO MORE SPOKEN IN MARRIAGE:

"Do not intermarry with them, giving your daughters to their sons or taking their daughters for your sons, for that would turn away your children from following me, to serve other gods. Then the anger of the LORD would be kindled against you, and he would destroy you quickly". Deut. 7:3-4

"In those days also I saw Jews who had married women of Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab; and half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod, and they could not speak the language of Judah, but spoke the language of various peoples. Neh. 13:23

The Lord has a real heart for children. He knows they model their parents. It's not just theoretical, children do go astray, children are lost forever because of an ungodly upbringing. In Nehemiah we see a whole generation of mixed up children, unable even to speak the language of Judah but adopting the language, culture and beliefs of the nations around them. Judah means praise and those children could not speak the language of Praise to God Almighty. But rather, they spoke the language of Ashdod. Ashdod means "stronghold, fortress", which represent the stronghold of Satan.

When children are turned away from God His anger is kindled and it says He "would destroy you quickly". We see God's anger coming through Nehemiah on this issue Verses 24-27 "And I contended with them and cursed them and beat some of them and pulled out their hair; and I made them take an oath in the name of God, saying, "You shall not give your daughters to their sons, or take their daughters for your sons or for yourselves". God cares about the kids and He will be very angry if you marry an unbeliever.

THORN IN THE EYES MARRIAGES:

"Be very careful, therefore, to love the LORD your God. For if you turn back, and join the survivors of these nations left here among you, and intermarry with them, so that you marry their women and they yours, know assuredly that the LORD your God will not continue to drive out these nations before you; but they shall be a snare and a trap for you, a scourge on your sides, and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from this good land that the LORD your God has given you". Joshua 23:11-13

In Old Testament times each ethnic group had its own worship system. To marry a foreigner was to marry someone outside your own religion.

How many Christians have I seen living defeated lives because they married an unbeliever! They are so numerous. There are three stages to the catastrophe. Firstly God is no longer powerfully present and giving victory and miracles, He said "know assuredly that the LORD your God will not continue to drive out these nations before you". Then there is a time of bitter frustration and pointlessness, a feeling of being trapped. But they shall be a snare and a trap for you, a scourge on your sides, and thorns in your eyes the pain can be so sharp that it will be like "a thorn in your eyes". Lastly everything you work for goes up in smoke there may be a foolish financial decision or an affair, alcoholism, unbelieving children, even a deception. You look back on a life that should have been prosperous and rewarding and instead you have perished from the land". Look around you and see. This is not an idle threat from God. It really does happen.