Releasing the Character of Christ

Releasing the Character of Christ…

As I considered the topic for this month’s Marriage Fitness letter, again and again the word Eternity beckoned me. First, I’d written last month that “the here and now are our preparation for it”, then the echoing long ago of Dallas Willard saying “you’re going to be dead a lot longer than you’re going to be alive”, and Francis and Lisa Chan’s GYM study that challenges us to “live with a view of Eternity”, and finally Pastor Jamie’s reminder that our days here are like short-lived windswept grass (Psalm 103:15-19), then we all will live in Eternity – some with Christ and some without Christ as Matthew 25:31-46 tells us.

Jamie went on to share that God gives us choices, and to ask ourselves if we have a heart for those living without Christ, and if not, why not?

I come to two conclusions in all of this: First that I will miss a lot in life if my focus does not change to see myself and our marriage living now as preparation for eternity with Christ. It’s too easy to focus on the here and now, and my selfish desires because that’s so in line with the world’s view, but God has called us to be different – to be holy. Second, since the Bible tells me that there is no marriage in heaven, I believe God has given it to us as the most powerful preparation for eternity.

Consider the lowly rock tumbler or mortar and pestle. Their purpose is to grind things to make them more useful.   The mortar & pestle crush and grind seasonings into a fine powder to release the essence of the items being crushed, and increase the flavor in recipes, and the rock tumbler’s only purpose is to create the pretty little stones we find in souvenir shops everywhere. Throw a few scruddy old stones in the tumbler, grind them with grit for a year and take out beautiful shiny rocks.   Ephesians 5:32 tells us that our marriage has a similar purpose – to become the most powerful testimony of Christ in the most intimate relationship He gave mankind, and to do it everywhere. Toss a flawed man and woman into the mortar & pestle or tumbler called marriage for a few years, and we’re designed by Him to see the release of the essence of His Character in us and to become a better reflection of His relationship to His Church, which also makes it a powerful preview of Eternity

So how do we get there I’m often asked?   That’s a really good question, and Dallas Willard also suggested that we need three things to make changes last.   Those three became the root of your Marriage Ministry motto: Great marriages never happen by accident, but will thrive with a Vision of Christ at their center, Intentional Effort and the Right Tools. We think the key to finding the vision for our marriage is surrendering to God those things that belong to Him, then asking Him for His vision for our lives and marriage. Holding hands and unhurriedly praying daily together is the most powerful influence in our marriage, and it is a time when God will reveal His desires for you.

One sure vision He gives relating to our marriages as Display Cases, is to have a heart for the lost.   We all know people who would benefit from seeing Christ-centered marriages – and that God in His wisdom might give us the opportunity to share the hope within us – everywhere.       Perhaps God might use us in some small way as His instrument leading others to Christ.