....one

By the middle of the sixth day, God had created the sun, moon and stars; the land, sky, and water; the fish, birds, plants and animals. And when He looked at His creation, "God saw that it was good" Genesis 1:25. 

But God's creation was not yet complete; "Then God said, 'let us make man in our image'" Genesis 1:26. Out of the dust of the ground God breathed life into man and put him in the Garden of Eden, "to work it and take care of it" Genesis 2:15.

As God watched man go about his work, He saw that something was incomplete.  Whatever the cause, God looked at His latest creation and said: It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him Genesis 2:18

Adam needed more than someone to help him with his chores; he needed someone to make him complete! So God formed woman, not from the ground but from a rib taken from Adam's side; "This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh" Genesis 2:23

If God gives us someone as a special gift, they ought to be cherished and protected for a lifetime; "For this reason, a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh" Genesis 2:24. Like pieces of a puzzle that fit neatly together, a God-ordained marriage joins and completes by making two become one.

It's sad how quickly we forget these basic truths as we continue to place our individual desires ahead of the union created by God. We walk on the roof of temptation without regard to the potential devastation. The result is often a bitter war with years of spiritual bloodshed and an eventual ripping apart of what God has joined. We must stop this downward spiral before it even begins.

• To those who have suffered the painful end of a marriage, I pray that you would see the love and forgiveness found in the arms of God. 
• To the MANY singles, I pray that God would give you encouragement and strength; I pray He would be the true and faithful Helper. 
• To those who are married or planning to marry, I pray we would now and forevermore see our spouse as a true gift from God given to make us whole. 

I pray we would forever thank Him for joining us together and commit to the protection of the union. 

I pray we would always remember that when God provides our most suitable helper (and completer), the two become one flesh.

- adapted from steve troxel