The spiritual nature and the degradation of marriage

Man was made in the image of God. But what does it mean to be made in His image? What is God like? The Bible says, "God is a Spirit" (John 4:24). When we think of a spirit, we think of something not limited by physical restraints—something unseen and greater than the material world. When God made man in His image, He created a spiritual being covered by an earthly body. We all have the breath of God and a spirit within us. This internal spirit is the real person; it is our character.

Two Natures: Spiritual and Earthly With our spiritual nature, we relate to God; with our earthly nature, we relate to the world. Let’s break this down to understand it better. What do we find in our spiritual nature? We find love, patience, longsuffering, and mercy. The spiritual nature is primarily about relationships; that is its highest goal.

Because God is a Spirit, He has no physical needs, yet He finds pleasure in relationships. The Godhead itself is a union of three eternal beings—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—and their relationship with each other is the foundation of existence. Loving each other is life itself.

In contrast, our earthly nature—the flesh—allows us to live on this planet. It consists of physical abilities: eating, drinking, walking, and physical intimacy. These things connect us to the earth. Animals share this earthly nature; they eat, play, and reproduce. However, animals cannot relate to God because they are not spiritual beings; they lack an invisible nature imbued with divine qualities.

 How does this relate to the modern struggle of marriage? Marriage is a spiritual institution. By this, I do not mean it is "mystical," but rather that it is an institution designed for spiritual beings—beings capable of sacrificial love. Marriage is an internal union of characters more than an external union of bodies.

When sin entered the world, this changed. Sin is an exchange of natures. Before the Fall, the spiritual nature controlled humanity; we were focused on loving God and one another. Sin was a downward turn. Adam and Eve ate a physical fruit, thinking they could attain spiritual wisdom through a physical act. It was an act of madness. The essence of temptation is to make us choose the physical at the expense of the spiritual. As we strengthen the flesh, the higher qualities of love and mercy die out.

Marriage then becomes difficult. The more "physical" our lives become, the less we are able to maintain deep relationships. Many view marriage only as a way to satisfy sexual urges or fleshly gratification. But physical urges are only an earthly connection; they cannot lead to lasting love.

 The physical nature is focused on sensual satisfaction—how you make me feel today. The spiritual nature is focused on lasting satisfaction—loving you for the long haul. The flesh seeks temporary relief ("I am hungry, I need food now"), but the spirit finds satisfaction in uplifting and enjoying others.

Satan continually tempts us to live according to the flesh, which is why maintaining a marriage has become so difficult. The more earthly we become, the less like God we are. Animals care mainly about survival—emotional and physical—and an earthly person becomes a stranger to self-sacrifice.

 The problem with marriage is a problem of nature. We focus on the external—wealth and beauty—while ignoring the internal qualities of mercy and compassion. We build physical wealth but remain spiritually bankrupt. To have successful relationships, we must rebuild our spiritual nature. This can only be done through a relationship with God.

We begin to be restored when we realize that the highest goal of life is not how much we have, but how much we love. "Dying to self" means destroying the earthly nature's control over us and bringing it back under the subjection of the spirit. The flesh was never meant to dominate; it was meant to serve the higher self.

Practice Makes Perfect We subject the earthly nature through prayer and by making a conscious effort to live as spiritual beings. We practice the "Fruit of the Spirit": love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Through practice, these become habits, and these habits become our character.

God is a Spirit, and He made us in His image. Let us pursue the fruit of the Spirit in our daily lives. This will bring meaning to our existence, fix our broken relationships, and make our marriages a blessing to the world.

Enduring to the end ! A look at the lessons of the presidential election of 2024

 President Donald Trump has gained victory in the presidential election. Many across the nation and the world are shocked and astonished by this extraordinary success. How can a man who left Washington in disgrace in the eyes of many in January 2021 return to the highest office in the land? Many thought at that time that Mr. Trump was politically done and buried; yet, here he stands as the President-elect.

 How did Mr. Trump do it? He had a singular goal—the presidency—and he persevered until the very end. He was undeterred and unrelenting. He "set his face like flint," essentially declaring that no matter what came his way, he would not stop. Even after negative events, he remained motivated to run the race and win what many consider the biggest political prize in the world.

On the way to this triumph, Mr. Trump faced lawsuits, criminal cases, and assassination attempts. He was abandoned by many in his own party after the January 6 debacle and was blamed for Republican losses in the 2022 congressional elections. Yet, he achieved what many call the greatest political comeback in the history of this country. Though he was thought to be politically dead, he has returned stronger than before because he persevered to the end.

 We may say what we want about President Trump’s policies, but if we as Christians were as persevering in our faith as he was in his pursuit of the presidency, we would certainly inherit heaven. Many Christians today lack this enduring faith; we are easily bogged down and discouraged. At the slightest adversity, we want to quit or make excuses as to why we shouldn't keep going. And yet, God is looking for "soldiers" who will fight the good fight.

The Christian life is akin to a political campaign or a race. The Book of Revelation tells us that only those who overcome will sit with Jesus on His throne, just as He overcame and sat down with His Father.

Persevering Until the End As Christians, we are called to persevere no matter the circumstances.

• Sickness comes? Persevere. * Family problems? Persevere. * Immigration or financial struggles? Persevere. * Mental health issues or struggles with sin? Persevere in Christ.

Like the President-elect, we should let nothing—no difficulties, no powers, no angels, no height nor depth—separate us from the love of God. Nothing less than a persevering faith will take us to the greatest prize in the universe: the crown of life.

The more we overcome obstacles through the power of God, the stronger we become. We will face dark days and mountains to climb. We will have sins to struggle with, negative thoughts to overcome, and "Satan’s bullets" to escape. But the greater the difficulty, the closer we should draw to Christ. As we abide in His love, He will make us His elect—a wonder to the universe and the greatest comeback story in existence. From sin to righteousness; from sinner to saint!

Let us persevere until the very end. God bless.

A new American golden age! Prosperity and safety ?

 The 2024 United States presidential election has concluded, and President Donald Trump has prevailed decisively over Vice President Kamala Harris. This completes a historic comeback for Mr. Trump, who survived two assassination attempts and faced numerous criminal cases. His return to the White House is a feat of political resilience not seen since the late 1800s.

 How did Trump manage to do it? Many in the media suggest that the primary driver behind his return to power was the economy. Americans are enduring tough times due to inflation, a difficult housing market, and the rising price of groceries. While mainstream media outlets insisted the economy was performing well, the average person felt otherwise and subsequently rejected the incumbent administration. By focusing heavily on these economic anxieties, Trump propelled himself to victory.

A New Golden Age? In an age of global anxiety, Trump campaigned on a promise of American prosperity. His slogan, "Make America Great Again," promises a secure border, global peace, and an affordable American dream. In his victory speech, he pledged to usher in a "new American golden age."

But will he succeed? While I am not a prophet nor the son of a prophet, I know we are living at the end of time. The Word of God reveals the landscape of the last days so that we may be prepared. One of the specific signs the Bible tells us to watch for is the cry of "peace and safety." Prophecy suggests that when people begin talking about a return to prosperity, we should know that greater ruins may lie ahead.

"For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape." — 1 Thessalonians 5:3

 We are hearing many calls for "peace and safety," yet the Scriptures warn that more calamities are on the way. These disasters are like labor pains, signaling that the Lord is about to return and warning us to turn from sin to find true security in Jesus.

Do not be lulled by the "peace and safety" message or the promise of a new golden age. We are living in the closing scenes of earth's history, and conditions are set to intensify. Soon, leaders may realize they cannot fix the systemic problems sweeping the world. This often leads to a call for religious legislation—an attempt to "return to God" by enforcing a national day of rest that contradicts the Bible's Sabbath commandment.

As noted in The Great Controversy:

"It will be declared that men are offending God by the violation of the Sunday sabbath; that this sin has brought calamities which will not cease until Sunday observance shall be strictly enforced; and that those who present the claims of the fourth commandment... are troublers of the people, preventing their restoration to divine favor and temporal prosperity." (GC 590)

 

Will President Trump deliver the economic era he has promised? We will have to wait and see. However, the prophetic map indicates more financial collapses and increasing calamities. These will not stop until Christ appears in the clouds of heaven to take those who have made Him—not the economy—their safety and prosperity. Seek the Lord while He may be found; call upon Him while He is near. Danger lies ahead!