Do you know the ultimate purpose for marriage? In a number of Western nations, up to about half of all marriages fail. This alone suggests that most married couples don't know why the institution of marriage exists. Even worse, they don't know its ultimate purpose.

How often have you heard men and women talk about their marriages in a less than complimentary way? Some couch their thoughts and feelings about marriage in humor, doubt or sexual innuendoes.

Why do they characterize marriage in these terms? Why does the marriage state begin in a state of bliss and end in a black hole of misery? Why would a man and woman look to the wedding ceremony as a defining act of their lives, only to wind up making jokes about it and scorning it?

There are good reasons for this paradox. To understand, we must come to recognize what's behind the institution of marriage—and what's behind efforts to subvert and destroy it.

Institution of marriage

In the beginning of God's plan for humankind, He refurbished the earth (Genesis 1:2), making it habitable for all living things (Genesis 1:21-31). Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness . . ." (Genesis 1:27). That statement gives us a clue as to the ultimate purpose for the marriage institution. We'll get back to that later.

God created Adam from the dust of the ground and Eve from Adam's rib. Next, God brought them together to unite them in holy matrimony:

"And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place. Then the rib which the Lord God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man.

"And Adam said: 'This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.' Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh" (Genesis 2:21-24).

God sanctified the divine institution of marriage when He joined together the first man and woman. Only God can institute and sanctify the marital union. No human being can.

Ruth's story demonstrates devotion to another person

The bottom line in the biblical story of Ruth is faithfulness and commitment. Ruth was the daughter-in-law of Naomi and the wife of Boaz. After Naomi lost her husband and her two sons in Moab, she decided to return to Bethlehem. Naomi urged her daughters-in-law to remain in Moab.

One daughter-in-law turned back, but Ruth refused to leave. Her words of devotion have graced wedding ceremonies for years: "But Ruth said: 'Entreat me not to leave you, or to turn back from following after you; for wherever you go, I will go; and wherever you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God, my God. Where you die, I will die, and there will I be buried. The Lord do so to me, and more also, if anything but death parts you and me'" (Ruth 1:16-17).

Ruth's expressed commitment and faithfulness to her friendship and family bond with Naomi is what husbands and wives should have for one another—except that the marriage bond is to be an even closer union.

The ultimate purpose for and goal of marriage

The apostle Paul perceptively shared with us the greater reality that the marriage relationship represents—that the Church of God will become at one with Jesus Christ in a divine marriage. Christ, as the Groom, prepares His betrothed Bride for the great wedding supper. Notice what Paul wrote:

"Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.

"So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church. For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones. For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.

"This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church. Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband" (Ephesians 5:25-33; emphasis added throughout).

In the book of Revelation, Christ reveals that He is going to marry the Church: "Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready. And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. Then he said to me, 'Write: Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!'" (Revelation 19:7-9).

Physically, marriage is designed for human beings so we can learn to love one another and our families that come from this wonderful, God-designed relationship. Marriages are made, not born. In this life, both the husband and wife work at their marriages, sharing with and sacrificing for each other (Ephesians 5:21-28).

Human marriages, wonderfully designed by an all-loving God, typify the reality and fulfillment of the marriage of Christ to the Church. This is the ultimate purpose of marriage.

At Jesus' return, Christ's Bride will have made herself ready, as we've already seen (Revelation 19:7). The Church makes herself ready by obeying God's laws in faith (James 2:24, James 2:26), putting God first in her life and loving her neighbor as herself (Matthew 22:36-40).

Image, interloper and a wedding divine

Earlier in this article I mentioned that I would address how God makes us in His image. I also mentioned a force that strives to destroy God's holy institution of marriage. First, let's address our being made in His image.

Our bodily form is an aspect of God's image (compare Revelation 1:14-17; 1 John 3:2). But more importantly, God the Father, through Jesus Christ, is remaking us in His spiritual image, which includes the spiritual character we build though God's Spirit of truth (compare John 16:13-15; Galatians 2:20).

The institution of marriage is a major way in which God recreates us in His spiritual image (Genesis 1:27; 1 Peter 3:1-9; Philippians 1:6). He is creating in us His righteous character and His oneness with Him (John 17:22). Our physical bodies won't last (2 Corinthians 4:16); only spiritual character will (1 John 2:15-17).

Secondly, regarding the subverting of marriage and family, you should be aware that Satan the devil is twisting the marriage union beyond recognition. He has blinded the majority of mankind from seeing the pristine truth about God, His glorious gospel and the institution of marriage.

He influences humanity to destroy itself because he knows our potential in Christ's Kingdom and family (1 Corinthians 2:9). Satan cannot destroy us (Job 1:12; Luke 22:31-32). However, he can influence us to destroy ourselves. This helps explain why the institution of marriage is continuously under attack.

At His return, Jesus Christ will marry the Church in a divine wedding. God gave the institution of marriage to help us understand the deep, loving relationship we will share with Jesus Christ for eternity in His Kingdom. You can now work at making your marriage happier (see "Five Keys to a Happy Marriage") as you prepare for the ultimate purpose of marriage—the marriage of God's Church to His Holy Son, Jesus Christ!

[Read the corresponding article: What About Divorce?]