PJ Vescovi

Love is the most powerful but misconstrued facet of all human interaction. It has many counterfeits and knock-offs. It remains the one thing we all need, want,  chase after, but know very little about. The proof of our ignorance can be discovered simply by looking at marriage statistics.

In the 1950’s and 60’s the divorce rate was around 20%. It wasn’t until 1970 and the dawn of the “sexual revolution” that we saw a massive jump in divorce. By the beginning of 1980, the divorce rate had reached 50%. From 1980- 2017 the divorce rate has fluctuated between 40-55%. (Studies that try to refute these stats claim that a marriage lasting 15 years and ending is a success) Apparently the sexual revolution, also led to a divorce revolution.

Clearly, there is an assault on marriage. From the outside looking in you may think that this isn’t a big deal. But when you look at the consequences divorce has had on people, families and communities, its clear how much of a crisis divorce has become.

While I have personally seen divorcees heal and move into great relationships and marriages, for the majority of people this isn’t the case. Deep wounds and pain keep people bound and emotionally paralyzed. Too often, kids are victimized by emotions and pain that they aren’t mature enough to handle or process. The breakdown of family and divorce has links to crime, substance abuse, infidelity and poverty and more.

All these symptoms are devastating, but the impact of divorce goes much deeper than that. When God wanted to change the world, he chose to put a marriage at its foundation. Marriage (not church) was at the center of God’s plan for mankind.

In the Garden, we only see the devil enter the scene once Eve was created. Nothing about the creation of man, threatened the devil. He didn’t care. But when he saw God create Eve from Adam, and give Eve to Adam in the form of marriage – he got really nervous. And so he employed a lie to disrupt God’s plan to bless mankind.

The devil hates marriage. He hates us, because we are formed in God’s image, but he hates marriage because it is the living, breathing symbol of our relationship with Jesus. We are the bride of Christ, and he is our groom.

Husbands love your wives, as Christ loved the church, and gave himself for it. Eph 5:25 

The evil one wants nothing more than to destroy that union and cause us to be unfaithful to a God who loves us. If he can dismantle marriage, he can undermine the very relationship that can bring us life and freedom – a relationship with Jesus.

Today, he is still forming lies and planting seeds of doubt and unhappiness. He is an expert at dwelling in the shadows, whispering lies, and convincing people to make life-altering, painful decisions. His mission as stated in John 10:10 is to “steal, kill, and destroy,” and his weapon of choice is lies.

But why lies? Why wouldn’t he choose some other weapon?  BECAUSE HE HAS NO POWER OF HIS OWN.  If he had power, he wouldn’t have to lie. We have power, so must lie to us and manipulates us into compromise so that he can have some power.

That’s why the word says that if you Resist the devil and submit to God – He will flee. Because he has no advantage over a person submitted to God.

All bondage can be tied to a lie, but all freedom can be tied to the Truth.

A lie only has power if you believe it, but if you don’t know the truth, you won’t be able to refute the lie! Knowing truth and applying it to your life and your relationships won’t just transform your world, but influence those around you.

The truth is, Marriage is still at the center of God’s plan to change the world. The marriage of us to His Son Jesus!  And there isn’t a more powerful symbol of that relationship that the union of a man and a woman.

So over the next few posts, I want to identify 3 lies that are assaulting marriage and what you can do about it! Whether you are single, married or dating, I believe these posts can be life-changing. Stay tuned!