A New Contract

For those who don’t know, marriage is a covenant. A hold over from the old blood covenant. So, what is a blood covenant? It was something that was done to ensure an agreement before we were cursed with lawyers.

Back in the day, before lawyers, when a man hired a guy to paint his house, in order to be sure the work would be done on time and according to the agreed terms, the two men would enter into a covenant.

Simply put, they would cut an animal in half and walk together between the two halves swearing to each person’s god something like “may it be unto me like this animal if I break the agreement with this other person…” This was called a blood covenant and it was taken very seriously.

Why? Well, who in their right mind wanted the god they believed in to curse them? This was all they had to “guarantee” the work and/or payment would be delivered as agreed. You see, each person would recite the terms before they walked between the two halves. These terms were the vows.

This is what Marriage is, a covenant. A covenant where you make vows before witnesses, then walk together between the halves (yes, the people sitting). Since each halve, though nothing or no one is killed, represents the two halves of a bloody animal. This covenant, like all covenants before them, is only as serious as those who believe in the god they make vows to.

Unfortunately, though it grieves me to see our country embrace rebellion against God, I do realize that most do not believe in God. This unbelief makes the marriage vows irrelevant. Don’t believe so? Look at the divorce rate…even among “Christians”. As it is written in the book of James, faith is shown by our actions. The same holds true here.

I am saddened by the decision last week, but even more saddened by the lack of faith in most everyone in our country. We are no longer a predominately Christian nation. I am wondering now, if we ever really were. I know the bible declares the times coming will be moving from bad to worse, at least until He returns to take the reins of government. Yet it still saddens me to watch it happen.

Do I support gay marriage, no. Not because they are gay, no, because of what they will do with this new found power. Soon, and I am sure it’s already in the works, there will be lawsuits to force pastors to perform these “covenants in show only”. This will begin an increasing persecution and the closing of church doors. Think that absurd? How many photographers or bakers have already gone out of business? Oh, yes, it is coming. The bible predicted it. We are now watching it unfold.

Consider this, as you watch all these events transpire. The bible outlines it. Israel is a nation, though it wasn’t for almost 2000 years. Nations are rising against God. Babylon is becoming a problem… beheading even as foretold. Well, how many more things do we all need to see to realize that the ancient book, that is so maligned just might be, well, true. If that is so, maybe there is only one covenant that you should really consider entering in. The one blood covenant that God offered Himself for. Yes, I am talking about the whole Jesus dying on the cross thing.

Yes, that was a covenant. It was also the completion of a covenant that we all know well…the Law.

Don’t understand? Well, the Law was in itself the terms of a covenant between the nation of Israel and God. They passed through the Red Sea did they not? See the picture? Unfortunately, that covenant proved to be impossible for the poor Israelites to live up to, thus they faced the curse of breaking it.

So God, came down as a Jew and as God (both sides of the covenant) and lived up to it. When He died, He finished that covenant and created a new one. (Side note: Old Testament means Old Covenant, likewise, New Testament means New Covenant). What did Jesus pass through? Life and death. He offers this covenant with the only terms being “TRUST ME”.

So, in conclusion, Covenants made without faith are irrelevant. There is no benefit. However, there is one covenant that God made with Adam and his children long ago. This one involves death and separation from God. Unfortunately, we are all under that one whether we like it or not. Yet, Good News! The new Covenant that Jesus made removes all prior covenants. The only requirement is that we accept that covenant and believe.

Is that really so hard to understand?