Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and spoke with me, saying, ‘Come here, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.’
– Revelation 21:9
The pain in their eyes is indescribable.
It is a suffering worse than death, because it is one they must live it out every day. There is no resolution, no undoing the affair. Their faces tell it all:
Shame at being disgraced by a spouse who has left them for another
Loss of trust
Heartache at knowing the intimacy they once knew has been shared with someone else
Anger at being betrayed
Devaluation of their own personhood
Sadness at facing the future alone
I’ve never experienced the betrayal of a spouse, but I’ve seen the destruction adultery has caused in the lives of others. I’ve wept with them as they were split in half by the news, prayed for them as they bled from the open wounds, rejoiced with them as they found healing in God and moved onward in their lives.
A friend whose parents divorced when she was a child once told me that watching her parents split was worse than having them die. A person doesn’t usually choose to die but choosing to leave one love for another tells the whole family they are not that important.
In Jewish tradition, an engagement was considered as binding as the marriage ceremony.
This is why Joseph considered quietly divorcing Mary when he learned she was pregnant. Though they were not yet married, it took a divorce to break the engagement. God assured him Mary had not committed adultery but was with child through the power of the Holy Spirit.
If you are a believer, you are engaged. The Lord Jesus is your Groom. He takes His commitment to you seriously, and He expects His Bride to return this love and devotion.
Every act of adultery breaks our marriage vows and destroys our relationships. There is no small way to break our vows. Adultery is not an “indiscretion” or a “mistake.” It is a selfish act that devalues everything we hold precious.
In the same way, when we commit acts of immorality, we commit adultery against our beloved groom. And it breaks His heart. Knowing ourselves just how much pain it causes, how can we do the same thing to Him?
He has given everything He has for us. All He wants our hearts in return. All He asks is that we look to Him for love and fulfillment, leaving the idolatrous liaisons of this world behind.
He’s worth it. He deserves no less than our complete devotion.
Is He your one love?
