Until Death Do Us Part
by R. L. Craig
via Expository Review, January 1983
"Do you take this young woman, whose right hand you now hold, to be your lawfully wedded wife; her, to cherish her, in sickness or in health, in prosperity or adversity, for better or for worse; do you promise to be true to her, forsaking all others and cleave unto her and her only until death do you part?"
Then, without hesitation, but perhaps with quivering lips, the answer comes - "I do." The legal statement connecting them is spoken, and then, usually, the statement: "What God hath joined together, let not man put asunder."
I have gone through this hundreds of times, my first being back in 1945. Some of these I have managed to keep track of. Others are scattered all over the country. It is always with a rather sick feeling that I hear of one of these unions being dissolved. Preachers are not just "marrying Sams," looking for a fee; all the preachers I know are somewhat careful about the ceremonies they perform because they are deeply concerned with the eternal welfare of the participants.
The world in general has forsaken its marriage vows. The home teeters on the brink of total destruction. Family life is no more. The pitiable thing about this situation is that God’s people are joining the world rather than influencing the world to imitate them. Preachers are anxiously looking for loopholes in God’s divine arrangement pertaining to the marital state. In so doing, they are perverting scripture, dividing churches, and leading many to eternal destruction.
"Buy the truth and sell it not" was the inspired admonition of the wise man. I am persuaded that he was not, exclusively, talking about "truth" as it pertains to the way of salvation. I think he was talking about truth, honestly, in all cases. Truth is a scarce commodity on the world market today, but there are still a few, especially among Christians, who regard truth as valuable as Solomon labeled it.
Young people, read the wording of that vow you will someday be called to make. Look at the tremendous responsibility to which you will agree. Ask yourself: Are you ready to assume the obligations of marriage? Talk it over with that "one of your heart" with whom you expect to spend a lifetime. Is he ready, also? If not, then the marriage is doomed from the beginning.
Young married people: look it over again. Did you mean what you said when you made this most holy promise? Or, did you lie about it?
Older people are now getting divorced because the children are raised, married, and out of the nest. Well, was the vow you made to be for your children’s sake, or of faithfulness to your mate regardless of what hardships or idiosyncrasies he or she might have?
Parents, try to get your children to read this little article. It might help—you need all the help you can get—it might not! But something must be done to restore God’s will to the marriage relationship.
When you read this, my wife and I will have just completed forty-six (now 56—rlc) years of wedlock. Forty-six years of heartache, sorrow, hard financial times, sicknesses, and a very few little spats. But on the credit side is forty-six years of shared happiness and contentment. After forty-six years, we appreciate more fully the meaning of the word "love." It is not hugging and kissing, nor sex, but the joy of companionship with someone you can trust; just a look, a smile, a touch—and thankfulness for someone who loves me in spite of my shortcomings—just like the marriage vow said: "For better or worse; in sickness and in health; in adversity or in prosperity—until death do us part."
