"For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh." --Genesis 2:24
There are three stages in the Christian walk--salvation, sanctification, and
glorification. The moment we put our trust in Christ, are saved. We are 100%
His. Yet at the same time, we are not complete. We are saved, but we have not
yet been made like Christ. Sanctification continues the work of salvation,
bringing us in closer unity with Jesus and the Father. It is never complete
while we live on this earth; we have an infinite amount of growing to do.
Nevertheless, we continue to become closer and closer to Him, more perfectly
reflecting Christ as we go on. Glorification is the third stage in which we are
complete. Finally after the struggles and trials, disappointments and failures,
and much growing, Christ will bring us to His eternal kingdom, making us
perfect in moments. John the apostle splendidly summarized the idea of
glorification in 1 John 3:2, "We know that when He appears, we will be
like Him, because we will see Him just as He is." At our first glimpse of
Christ, we will finally be as He is. Perfect unity.
While it is generally understood that "they shall become one
flesh" is referring to the "act of marriage" as Tim LaHaye so
tactfully put it, marriage doesn't end there. The vows said on the wedding day
and the following consummation are only the beginning. The couple is fully
"one flesh," but similar to salvation, it is not the end.
In a similar manner, marriage is begun at the vows and the consummation.
There is no marriage without them. But it doesn't end there. After the original
union on the wedding day, we continue to grow in that unity, striving to better
reflect Christ and the Church. Similar to sanctification, the marriage is a
journey of becoming more one, more unified, a more accurate model of the Lord's
relationship with us. And like sanctification, the process is never finished
while on this earth. The full realization of the purpose of our marriage will
come at the same moment that we are glorified--when we are taken up to heaven
and given to Christ Himself as His perfect and spotless bride. That which we
have been practicing for while on earth will finally be accomplished in the
heavenly marriage of Christ and the Church.
So, my husband and I are one, and are becoming one, as we strive to be a
representation of Christ and His bride. This is the story of our journey in
progress--our failures, successes, ponderings, and lessons learned as we grow. Given in
hopes of encouraging, and reminding us of our commitment to each other, and to
Christ, as the three of us become one.