‘For when the dead rise, they will neither marry nor be given in marriage. In this respect they will be like the angels in heaven.’ Matthew 22:30(NLT)
‘For when the dead rise, they will neither marry nor be given in marriage. In this respect they will be like the angels in heaven.’ Mark 12:25(NLT)
‘Then Jesus was approached by some Sadducees—religious leaders who say there is no resurrection from the dead. They posed this question: “Teacher, Moses gave us a law that if a man dies, leaving a wife but no children, his brother should marry the widow and have a child who will carry on the brother’s name. Well, suppose there were seven brothers. The oldest one married and then died without children. So the second brother married the widow, but he also died. Then the third brother married her. This continued with all seven of them, who died without children. Finally, the woman also died. So tell us, whose wife will she be in the resurrection? For all seven were married to her!” Jesus replied, “Marriage is for people here on earth. But in the age to come, those worthy of being raised from the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage. And they will never die again. In this respect they will be like angels. They are children of God and children of the resurrection.’ Luke 20:27-36(NLT)
‘For example, when a woman marries, the law binds her to her husband as long as he is alive. But if he dies, the laws of marriage no longer apply to her. So while her husband is alive, she would be committing adultery if she married another man. But if her husband dies, she is free from that law and does not commit adultery when she remarries.’ Romans 7:2-3(NLT)
‘If we live, it’s to honor the Lord. And if we die, it’s to honor the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. ‘ Romans 14:8(NLT)
When my seven-and-a-half-year-old younger son died of leukemia, my faith as a Christian made me believe I will be reunited with my son in eternity. My final conversations with my son gave me the assurance that he had made it to heaven. What was left was for me to run my race, true to my faith to meet him there. As a family this became our hope.
In my mind I started looking forward to the day when we would be a family of four again. Soon it stopped making sense to my logical mind. As a mother I wanted my elder son to live till he got married and would have a family of his own. But wait … which family will he be part of – us or with his wife ?…… This meant it would still be just three of us….
I was reminded of my marriage vow.
I, Sherene, take you, John, to be my husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part, according to God’s Holy law. In the presence of God I make this vow.
It suddenly dawned on me—my marriage would end the day one of us died (I am aware that this is not the only possible way). This changed my outlook of life and family. Yes, I will see my son and my husband in heaven but we may not be part of a unit called family. Three gospels give a glimpse of this with no ambiguity that, ‘At the resurrection people will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven.’ What does it mean to us living?
Marriage is an earthly relationship that is ordained and instituted by God to fill our lives with joy and purpose. If marriage is a purpose that God wants us to enjoy on earth, each of us will have to give an account of our actions and responses in marriage to fulfill God’s purpose. This brings life and purpose to our marriage on earth. Marriages are to be lived and cherished on earth, every day with joys and happiness in spite of the challenges and sadness…
Are we fulfilling God’s purpose in our marriages today or are we waiting for situations to become ideal?
from Being Real In Our Marriages by Sherene Ellen Rajaratnam