Remember the words, "For better, for worse; for

richer, for poorer; in sickness and in health; to love and to cherish

until death do us part." He said those words and she said the same

words constituting a covenant. A covenant happens when two people cut

a deal with one another, declaring the parameters by which and to which

their relationship can be stretched and tried.

A covenant conveys security. When two people get married,

it's like finding that mysterious unknown in high school chemistry. The

teacher gives you a test tube full of something and says, "find out

what it is." If you learned well, you know that you must subject

the test tube's contents through a series of tests to discover finally

what the unknown is.

Well, anyone who has been married for any length of time

will just about testify that he or she married an unknown. Only by going

through a series of trials and tribulations does one discover what he

or she married in the first place. Circumstances and time reveal what

you married.

When you cut a deal with someone and declare before God,

angels, church, family, and friends, "For better, for worse,"

you've got some security for all the unknowns that your mate will discover

about you. Yes, he will find out your annoying habits; but, he said, "for

better, for worse." Yes, she will discover that your parents never

did have any money; but, she said, "For richer, for poorer."

The covenant of marriage stands as protection as the

unknowns are unfolded by daily life. Of course, enter divorce court and

no fault divorce. The world's standard now allows that if you find out

something you don't like about your spouse, you can seek a divorce with

no one having to carry the fault. But that's the world and not God. Jesus

said what God has brought together, no one is to separate. That means

any court of any land, too.

Tragically, our children even in the third and fourth

grades are whispering to one another at school using the "D"

word regarding their parents. Their security system becomes flawed. They

don't know whom or what they can trust. The way it is suppose to happen

is like this: children see and hear their parents have an argument, perhaps

engage in a little shouting match. But, the children should be learning

life goes on and Mama and Daddy still love each other and are devoted

to one another and everyone's life is secure.

Yes, I heard my daddy and my mama exchange a few hard

and harsh words. But it never entered my mind that they would ever think

divorce. We all lived in that security. Our parents might have a few words,

but that did not mean that Daddy wouldn't be coming home at the end of

the work day and that Mama wouldn't be cooking supper as always.

Never did I worry about not having a man living in our

home. Never did I worry that someone would not be there for my sisters

and me. We all rested in the security of "for better, for worse;

for richer, for poorer."

I encourage parents that for the sake of your children

and for the sake of providing a model of trust and security, stay true

to your words on your wedding day. Makes for a lot less complicated life.

Everyone will sleep better.

John

Hatcher is pastor of

Outreach International

Center

1091 South Jeff Davis

Drive

Fayetteville, Georgia

30215

770-719-0303

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