Appeal For Purity

The Attraction of Divorce – Part 1 (Continued)

Very excited to continue what we started last time—a series on The Attraction of Divorce.

I hope and pray that you have also begun following this series with us. If you have not, no problem at all. You can simply scroll down, find the first part of the series, and catch up with us.

Last time, we discussed several important truths surrounding the topic of the attraction of divorce. When we speak about divorce in this series, we are not referring to divorces that take place on biblical grounds. Scripture does recognize exceptional cases such as sexual immorality and abandonment (Matthew 19; 1 Corinthians 7:13–16). Rather, we are addressing the kinds of divorces that happen every day for reasons outside of those biblical grounds.

As we said last time, divorce does not happen in a single day. First, a thought rises up against the knowledge of God and begins to take root in the heart.

And what does the knowledge of God say about marriage between one man and one woman?

A great deal.

For example:

“Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.”
(Hebrews 13:4, ESV)

And again:

“For I hate divorce,” says the Lord, the God of Israel… “So guard yourselves in your spirit, and do not be faithless.”
(Malachi 2:13–16, NASB)

This good and honorable institution called marriage is constantly attacked by the enemy, who is the father of lies. The devil comes presenting himself as a rescuer, offering what appears to be a solution to those struggling in their marriages. His solution is divorce—beautified and packaged with crafty lies.

And those who give their ears to him begin to believe those lies as truth.

Once belief settles in the heart, actions and decisions eventually follow. Imagination gives strength to deception. The person begins imagining:

“My life will finally be better.”
“I will finally live happily.”
“I finally found the right person.”

And once the imagination takes hold, many become determined to move forward no matter what anyone says. Counseling no longer helps. Spiritual encouragement no longer seems meaningful. The heart has already begun traveling toward destruction.

But in the middle of this imagined, attractive, untested future life—something important is missing.

This is where we stopped last time.

🔹 What the Imagination Does Not Show

The imagination does not show:

the cost of breaking covenant
the long-term consequences
the spiritual damage
the pain carried by children
the new struggles that will come

Because every “new beginning” outside of God’s design carries its own weight of sorrow.

Someone may ask:

“So are you saying that if people stay in their marriages according to the Word of God, they will live without sorrow? Didn’t Jesus Himself say, ‘In the world you will have tribulation’?”

That is a thoughtful question.

Yes, Jesus said:

“In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
(John 16:33)

But notice what He says at the end:

“I have overcome the world.”

🔹 What Does That Look Like in Marriage?

Marriage between one man and one woman—which reflects the union between Christ and His church—is constantly attacked:

by the devil,
by this fallen world,
and even by the remaining sin within Christians themselves.

So what happens when trials come?

The Word of God says:

“And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your Teacher will not hide himself anymore, but your eyes shall see your Teacher.”
(Isaiah 30:20)

When Christians choose to remain in the path of the Lord—according to His Word and will—no matter how difficult the road may become, God does not abandon them there.

The God who says, “Choose life,” is ultimately saying:
“Choose Me. Choose My Word. Choose My ways.”

And when believers do that, their eyes begin to see their Teacher.

They begin to see Christ more clearly:

His endurance,
His faithfulness,
His suffering,
His victory.

And in seeing Him, they find strength and healing for their weary souls.

🔹 The Sorrow of Living Outside God’s Will

But when Christians face hardship in marriage and choose to walk outside of God’s will, they still experience sorrow—yet without the comfort and fellowship that come through obedience.

Scripture says:

“But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you…”
(Isaiah 59:2, NIV)

This does not mean true believers lose their salvation whenever they sin. But it does mean that sin disrupts fellowship with God and clouds spiritual sight.

And so people often find themselves carrying sorrow alone.

🔹 The Devil Only Shows the Exit

The devil shows people the door out—but never shows them what is waiting on the other side.

He says:

“Leave and start over.”

But Christians must pause and ask:

Does God actually work that way?
If I abandon my covenant and begin again outside of God’s design, should I expect His blessing?
What does God call Christians to do with what is broken?

(continued next time) ///