I was faced with two options last Thursday night:
- Watch hours of Royal Wedding coverage.
- Watch hours of NFL 1st round draft analysis.
I ended up going with a third, less glamorous option though:
- Go to bed early.
While the extra sleep is always nice, I found out later that I missed an amazing message that was shared by the Revered Dr. John Hall during the Royal Wedding. In a very succinct manner, Dr. Hall explained why marriage is such a sacred and holy thing:
Dearly beloved, we are gathered here in the sight of God and in the face of this congregation to join together this man and this woman in holy matrimony, which is an honorable estate instituted of God himself signifying unto us the mystical union that is betwixt Christ and his Church, which holy estate Christ adorned and beautified with his presence and first miracle as he wrought in Cana of Galilee and is commended in holy writ to be honorable among all men, and therefore is not by any to be enterprised nor taken in hand unadvisedly, lightly or wantonly, but reverently, discreetly, soberly and in the fear of God duly considering the causes for which matrimony was ordained.
First, it was ordained for the increase of mankind, according to the will of God and that children might be brought up in the fear and nurture of the Lord and to the praise of his holy name.
Secondly, it was ordained in order that the natural instincts and affections implanted by God should be hallowed and directed aright, that those who are called of God to this holy estate should continue therein in pureness of living.
Thirdly, it was ordained for the mutual society help and comfort that the one ought to have for the other, both in prosperity and adversity, into which holy estate these two persons present come now to be joined.
Some estimate that two BILLION people heard this message of truth and hope. Think about it this way: During a ceremony that is better known for its extravagance and excess, God’s word about the holiness of marriage was heard by nearly 1/3 of the world’s population. How great is our God!?
If you want to read the complete transcript, click here.
(Thanks to our friends at the California Policy Council for sharing this with us).