In college, I learned from Plato’s Symposium the myth that people were originally made a single entity containing both male and female, consisting of 4 legs, 4 arms, and a single head made up of two faces; but because of their insolence against the “gods”, were split in two in order to humble them, relegated thereby, to spending the rest of their lives looking for their other half. Like most myths that try to give rhyme or reason to those things that we either see in nature and/or feel deep inside of us, this one tries to explain that ache, longing and desire that most people feel for that special someone who can in many ways “complete” them. Now I realize not everyone subscribes to the idea of a soul mate, a particular individual above all others with whom each of us would be best compatible. Much of society promotes the idea that there are a number of potential suitable mates for each one of us, and that we can best determine that through trial and error – dating as it’s called. But, if you would indulge me, I’d like to share this concept of God’s perfect will and His permissive will. If you recall Adam and Eve’s eating the forbidden fruit, that would be an example of God’s permissive will, whereas, His perfect will would have been had they obeyed Him and refrained from eating it. History, therefore, is a result of God’s permissive will, especially in regards to sin. In those instances where individuals inspired by the Holy Spirit, not content merely in discovering God’s will for their lives, but act on it; they are properly said to be, “living by the Spirit”[1], thereby fulfilling God’s perfect will. When I learned this distinction between living, or walking, in the Spirit and it’s alternative, walking in the flesh, it was a spiritual 2by4 “upside my head”. For the first time in my Christian walk I clearly realized that despite being “born again”, a follower of Christ, and assured of my salvation, that I could still “…walk according to the flesh”[2] , as evidenced by the fact that I can still sin, make wrong choices, and fail to execute God’s perfect will in my life. To live “according the Spirit” takes effort. Let me not kid you. It’s a daily, sometimes moment to moment, strenuous exercise this struggling and striving in order that I may rest, abide, and “be still” in His arms. I must admit it’s a struggle in which I seem to fail more often than I succeed. But as I’ve heard a Christian author and missionary named Frank Laubach put it in regards to his attempt at a moment-by-moment conscious walking with God, “Though the effort was strenuous, my day was effortless.” - “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”[3] It’s the “coming to Jesus” in every situation that takes effort, not only for salvation (a once and for all type deal), but also in our sanctification, a becoming more like Jesus, which is a life-long process. And how can we discover God’s “perfect” will for our lives? It entails a renewing of our minds by the Word of God, resulting in “transformation” - “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.”[4] It stands to reason, therefore, that God has an opinion about the choices we make in our lives: “Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it.’”[5]. And of all the choices we make in our lives, wouldn’t the choice of a spouse be one of the bigger choices we could ever make?
He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the LORD. (Pr.18:22)Houses and wealth are inherited from parents, but a prudent wife is from the LORD. (Pr.19:14)
“By all means marry; if you get a good wife, you'll be happy. If you get a bad one, you'll become a philosopher.” (Socrates)
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