What if You Never Experience Marriage?
Recently I took a road trip with my 15-year old daughter. During the many hours in the car, we ended up discussing how the world seems to be moving toward the long anticipated return of Christ to earth. At this she looked at me thoughtfully and said, “I hope Jesus doesn’t come back before I have a chance to get married and have a family.”
Those were exactly my sentiments at her age, and I suspect many singles at all ages feel this way. After all, Jesus said there would be no marriage in the Kingdom. I think this great urgency we feel to experience marriage and family is at the root of a lot of desperation to get married and the resulting mistakes!
In recent years, I have discovered some beautiful Biblical inferences about our future when Jesus returns, and I hope they will alleviate your feelings of loss or sadness at the thought of possibly not experiencing marriage and children here in this age. Please keep in mind that these opinions are those of the author and I reserve the right to be wrong. But one thing is sure: The God who created everything we love about this earth will not disappoint in the next. There will be nothing lacking that your heart desires. But as to your relationship status, consider these truths and possibilities about your future, should you never experience family on this side.
There is truth in Fairytales. While this might sound too geared toward the female audience, there is truth in it we can all appreciate. Think about the many fairytales. They all have some truths that apply to the “big story” of our romance with Jesus. There is the prized princess ( ), the handsome prince, the villain trying to keep them apart (any guesses who?), danger, suspense, valiance, a long sleep (for most) awakened by a kiss from the prince (1 Thess. 4:16), a magical kingdom ( ), a white horse ( ), and a happily ever after. If you search out the Bible, every one of these elements is a part of our future reality!
Jesus is the man/woman for whom you search now. The things you’re attracted to in the opposite sex now are actually characteristic glimpses of the One who created them. When you get love-struck around a certain person, just realize that the day you see Jesus for the first time, and the second time, and every time after that, your heart will practically melt with attraction to everything about Him. You see, His beauty, strength, and majesty was masked on His first visit to earth, but the next time we see Him, He will be positively the most compelling, bedazzling, captivating person we’ve ever encountered (check out )…which leads to my next point.
You will be ceaselessly infatuated. You remember that weak in the knees, can’t sleep, smitten feeling when you first fall for someone? And remember how that giddy feeling sort of wears off after you get to know the person? Sure, you can still love them because love is an action, not a feeling, but the twitterpated feelings sort of disappear when you become familiar. Well, not with Jesus! Can you imagine infatuation over that Someone never wearing off—ever? Yep, with Jesus, you’ll never experience the familiarity that diminishes His alluring nature, because as the King of the Universe, you will never stop being amazed and surprised by His awe-inspiring qualities and creativity!
There’s the likelihood of procreation. To some people this sounds heretical, but hold on a sec. Just because there’s no marriage the way we understand now, does not necessarily equate to no procreation. Check out . God is making a promise to Abraham and He says, “…indeed I will greatly bless you, and I will greatly multiply your seed as the stars of the heavens and as the sand which is on the seashore…” I’m no astronomy expert, but let’s do the math. I read on one fancy science website that with what scientists know so far from modern technology, there are at least 10 to the 22nd power of stars in the known Universe (that’s a ten followed by 22 zeroes). There are six billion people on the earth now (a six followed by 9 zeroes) and scientists estimate that only about 106 billion people have ever lived on earth. That’s a lot of missing zeroes. Plus, when we are resurrected into our immortal bodies, they are going to be a lot like our bodies now only way more jazzed up (1 Cor. 15:42-43).
I found an interesting transcription of a speech on this topic by Peter Kreeft at Columbia University back in 1996. Columbia is a very conservative school, and you will notice if you read that Peter starts out pretty cautiously as he builds his case for procreation in the next world. But he makes some great points!
The important thing to remember is this: God always keeps His promises! There isn’t time for the world to produce that many people in this age. As a matter of fact, none of the promises God made to Abraham have been fulfilled, and they won’t be until the return of Jesus and the future Kingdom. So…we must use our God-given intellectual reasoning on this.
Your “first marriage” will be perfect. If you never experience marriage on “this side,” consider that you have the advantage over the rest of us! You will never have to endure the pains of being in a marriage where two sinful people try to coexist peacefully under one roof, many times unsuccessfully!
I hope this article is encouraging to you in your quest to be patient on the path God has allowed for you during this season of singlehood. Be encouraged!
"Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready."
