"Developing A Strong Marriage" must be a top priority for every married in-dividual. It must be a major priority for those who are planning on getting married sometime in the future. Without this commitment your marriage will be mediocre at best and totally miserable at worse. I am convinced that God did not intend for the home to be a place of misery and failure. God's plan for the family is that the home might be a little taste of heaven on this earth. An oasis in the desert of this world. As we continue our discussion of "Developing A Strong Marriage" I want to focus on this important thought: A Commitment To Avoid An Involvement In Sin. In chapter three of Genesis we find the awful reality of sin. For the first time sin had invaded the world and touched the human race. Prior to this Adam and Eve had experienced and enjoyed a marital relationship without the destructive force of sin. They lived in a prefect world where sin had never reared its ugly head. Now sin has stained the lives of the first humans. Sin with all its shame and guilt now became part of the first family. What a tragedy. Instead of the perfect love and relationship that existed between Adam and Eve before, now comes division and disappointment. Before sin came they had never experienced disagree-ment, broken fellowship, or harsh words. Now Adam is blaming Eve for the condition in which they find themselves in because of sin(Gen. 3:12). How strange this must have been to those who previously had experience only beautiful har-mony and love. But sin always creates division. As Isaiah 59:2 states, "But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid His face from you, that He will not hear". Sin not only breaks the fellowship between you and God, it also destroys the relationship between husband and wife. God only knows how many homes have been broken because of sin and sins con-sequences. A sinful spouse that becomes involved in doing drugs, drinking liquor, cheating of his/her mate, stealing, lying, and killing is doing nothing more than destroying his home and his heart. Sin brings division in the home. Sin is the cause of the sharp, critical biting words. Sins is the cause of lies and deception. Sin is the cause of separation and divorce. In fact, nothing good can be said about sin. The only remedy for sin is to confess and forsake it. First, you must confess your sin to a Holy God. I John 1:9 states that, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness". Second, you must confess your sin to your wife or husband. You must sincerely and genuinely confess your faults as quickly as possible. We must immediately do as Colossians 3:13 instructs us to do: "Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye". Confession should be done as quickly as possible to prevent further dam-age to your marriage. Remember, if you would Develop A Strong Marriage you must have A Commitment To Avoid An Involvement In Sin.
