After the Supreme Court stuck down the Defense of Marriage Act, which defined marriage as between one man and one woman, it felt inevitable that marriage between homosexuals would become the law of the land. Since then, various states had enacted laws recognizing same-sex marriage themselves, while others had enacted bans on it. This ruling by the Supreme Court strikes down those bans and guarantees the rights of gay and lesbian couples to be married, and for those marriages to be recognized by every state in the Union.

“The court stood on the right side of history,” said the Anti-Defamation League. That feeling echoed all over Twitter alongside hashtags of #lovewins and #loveislove. Like I said, this decision felt inevitable given how things have been going the last several years.

So what’s a Christian to think of it all? Here are four things to keep in mind if you feel yourself beginning to be confused or upset about it:

1. We know how the story ends

As Christians we know how the story ends—God comes to dwell with mankind on a new earth for eternity (Revelation 21:1-4). At that point, which do you think will be the right or wrong side of history on this issue?

2. God's opinion of homosexuality has not changed

God’s opinion of homosexuality has not changed—it’s never been okay. Some people feel homosexual feelings now, just as some people have through all of human history. God asks us as His children to choose the right way to live, no matter what hand time and chance deal us in life—whether that be urges to murder others, burn things down, cut ourselves, rape somebody, pursue homosexual relationships, steal someone else’s property, or whatever. That said, it is not our job as Christians to condemn the world or the people in it who don’t choose to come under God’s direction and influence (1 Corinthians 5:9-13).

3. Marriage is not an old human institution

Marriage is not an old human institution, as Justice Kennedy wrote in his majority opinion for the Supreme Court:

“It would misunderstand these men and women to say they disrespect the idea of marriage. Their plea is that they do respect it, respect it so deeply that they seek to find its fulfillment for themselves. Their hope is not to be condemned to live in loneliness, excluded from one of civilization’s oldest institutions. They ask for equal dignity in the eyes of the law. ” —Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy

Marriage is God’s institution. He invented it. So sure, America will now recognize same-sex marriages in every state, but the truth is it’s only in the sight of God that a marriage exists in the first place. You can call a sailor’s hat a cowboy hat, but that doesn’t change what it actually is.

4. Love really does win

#lovewins might be a fun way for America to pat itself on the back for being a progressive society, but I don’t think the people using it know what love winning would actually look like. Because you know what? Love does win. God is love, and He conquers every enemy—including every type of sin (1 John 4:8; Revelation 21:27; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10).

When we read about the pride of our country in embracing the morally wrong, we can shed a tear for people turning their backs on God’s way. But we should never despair. God is in charge and has something larger in play than we can really comprehend right now, even as we know the outline given us in Scripture. We must live righteous lives, trust Him to let Him work His purpose and cry out for Jesus Christ to return.