So that's what it's really all about. You see, the perfect vision of a Christian marriage, even at its best, is still just "a kind of copy, or echo, or mirage" of something so much greater than itself. Even if you could perfectly apply our Christian Family Life principles in your marriage (and we hope and pray that you will), there would still be something lacking. For our Triune God and His heavenly country, our true Christian home, still await us in the future.

If we lose sight of this ultimate and final Christian vision, we will pile a burden upon our mates that they will never be able to sustain: the burden of making us happy like good Christian husbands and wives are suppose to. We will consign ourselves to a life of disappointments and regrets. For when we place unreal expectations on our mates, expectations that only God Himself can meet in our lives, our marriages are doomed to misery and failure.

But, on the other hand, when we make God and His heavenly country our ultimate and perfect vision for our marriage, He will set us free to love and serve Him as well as our mates. That is the only kind of perfect vision that can sustain, nurture, and fulfill our marriages. For God alone is the Perfect One and His heavenly kingdom is our only perfect home. The Marriage Supper of the Lamb awaits us in the future. Will you and your mate wait for it? "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God" (Matt. 5:8).

The Perfect Vision and Your Marriage

In light of God's perfect vision for your marriage, prayerfully consider the following questions:

1. What kind of perfect vision of your marriage have you and your mate carried in the past?

2. In light of this past imperfect vision of your marriage, what kind of unreal expectations have you placed upon your mate? Why not ask God to forgive you for looking to your mate instead of Him for all of your needs. Don't you think it might be good to also ask your mate to forgive you?

3. When was the last time that you and your mate thanked God for His perfect vision for your marriage: a vision of Himself and His heavenly country? Why not take a few minutes and do it right now.

© 2003 Christian Family Life

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