Christian Living

---

Last week, in a 4-3 decision, the California Supreme Court overturned the
state's ban on same sex marriages, paving the way for men to marry men and
women to marry women in the nation's most populous state. In 2000, 61
percent of voters passed a measure to outlaw gay marriage. Last week's
decision overturns that legislation, calling it a civil rights violation.
The only hope left is for the citizens of California to have a chance this
November to vote for an amendment to the California state constitution which
will define marriage as between a man and a woman.

What is happening in California and Massachusetts and in other places is not
only making a MOCKERY OF GOD'S HOLY INSTITUTION OF MARRIAGE, but is an
ABOMINATION TO GOD! If two people of the same sex choose to live together
and engage in homosexual relations in complete rebellion to God's Word, that
is their choice. But people who know Christ as their Savior cannot allow
society to change God's definition of marriage to legalize this sin people
have chosen to live in. For the proponents of gay marriage who are
comparing this to the civil rights movement of the '60s, that is simply
absurd. A person does NOT choose the color of their skin. A person DOES
choose who they have sex with!

It is time for two things to happen. First, the CHURCH has been asleep for
too long. Pastors MUST lead their congregations in fighting those who want
to change God's Word. It is time for all the various pro family
organizations, Christian legal organizations, to come together as ONE
UNIFIED VOICE and put an end to these attempts to change God's definition of
marriage. The homosexual community represents less than 1% of society, yet
they press forward their agenda because they have clearly defined goals and
are UNITED.

Second, it is time to hold our public officials and those in the media
accountable on these issues. President Bush once again let down the
Christian community by not pushing an amendment to the US Constitution as he
promised to define marriage as between a man and a woman. Likewise, people
in the media that make their millions from courting "Christians," people
like Rush Limbaugh, Bill O'Reilly, and Sean Hannity, who have national
influence, cannot be allowed a "politically-correct pass" on this issue.
These people love to let us know they are "Christians" so we listen to them
and buy their books allowing them to command multi-million dollar salaries.
Well, Christianity has a price and they either support God's institution of
marriage or they don't. There is NO COMPROMISE!

Marriage is God's idea, not man's. God's definition of marriage is one man,
one woman, one lifetime. Let me encourage those of you who have not been
married and are still waiting on God's perfect timing for your lifetime
mate. This is the plan God has for a man and woman as set forth in the
Bible. It is not even debatable to talk about any other kind of relationship
because God clearly lays out HIS plan in the Word, and anything else is a
perversion of that plan! Based on the divorce rate and percentage of people
who engage in premarital sex, one man, one woman, one lifetime may seem
unrealistic in today's society.

However, the perversion of God's plan for marriage is evident throughout
history and detailed in the Bible from the Old through the New Testaments.
That perversion DOES NOT make God's plan any less true. As a matter of fact,
it is only in following God's plan that it really works. One man, one woman,
one lifetime, means no divorce. The family and our society has been greatly
damaged by the ever-increasing divorce rate from the mid-'60s through today.
One man, one woman, one lifetime, means you don't engage in premarital sex.
For those moments of pleasure, the pain and consequences are evident in
broken and scarred lives. One man, one woman, one lifetime, works because
this is how God designed it, with the best interest of His children in mind.

Let me take a second to address those who have not been able to follow God's
plan. Many who read this Devotional have already been through divorce in
their life. Many have already had multiple sexual partners. In many cases,
all of this happened before you came to know Christ as your personal Savior.
Does this mean you should give up? No! What this does mean though is that
from this point forward, you should try to follow God's plan. It is the only
way you will be in His will and able to know the fullness of His blessings
in your life.

What you have done in your past is behind you. You can't change that. You
need to take some time to repent and ask God's forgiveness, to heal, and
then move forward in your life. God said in His Word that if we confess our
sins, He will forgive us and cleanse us of all unrighteousness. That is His
promise. Seek His forgiveness and move forward in your life following God.

Many reading this today will dismiss these words as nice but not realistic.
That is straight from the pits of hell itself. It is VERY realistic. The
world has perverted God's plan for marriage too long, and it is time to tell
people the truth. It works God's way, it will never work any other way. This
Devotional today is a warning to those yet unmarried, those yet who can
still follow God's plan for marriage in their life. If you don't believe
God, talk to someone who has been through a divorce. Talk to those who have
had multiple intimate relationships. Let them tell you firsthand the pain,
heartache and consequences. Then talk to those who have listened faithfully
to God and followed His plan of one man, one woman, one lifetime.

This devotional is also meant to encourage those who have failed to follow
God's plan in their life. It is not too late. God loves you, and while you
always have to deal with the consequences of your past actions, you can do
it God's way from here on out. The Bible talks about having a life of
abundance. My friend, that life is only possible when you follow God's plan
in all areas of your life, including His plan for marriage.

I love you and care about you deeply. I ask you to join me in prayer that
the people of California will have the opportunity to rise up and vote for
a constitutional amendment this November that will prohibit gay marriage in
their state. The only way we will end this mockery of God's Holy
Institution in our nation is to enact an amendment to the United States
Constitution to once and for all define marriage as God has, between a man
and a woman, period!

I will be praying today that these words will find a fertile resting place
in your heart. It should be a challenge to you. When you pray, ask God for
the wisdom and strength to live according to His plan for your life. God
will honor your commitment to Him. Let your life be a living testimony to
this lost and sin-filled world that there is a better way. The greatest
testimony you have is not the things you say, but how you live. Let those
around you notice how different your life is, how better your life is,
because you have chosen to follow God and God's plan!


In His love and service,
Your friend and brother in Christ,
Bill Keller

---

PLEASE ENCOURAGE AUTHOR BELOW LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE