Some of the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Jesus with a question. "Teacher," they said, "Moses wrote for us that if a man's brother dies and leaves a wife but no children, the man must marry the widow and raise up offspring for his brother. Now there were seven brothers. The first one married a woman and died childless. The second and then the third married her, and in the same way the seven died, leaving no children. Finally, the woman died too. Now then, at the resurrection whose wife will she be, since the seven were married to her?" (Luke 20:27-33 NIV)
The Sadducees did not believe there was a resurrection of the dead and life everlasting. They were sad, you see. (Sorry, it’s not my joke. I’m just passing it along.) They were trying to challenge Jesus, who obviously believes that there is resurrection of the dead and life everlasting. So, they asked him a question that would pose a real problem in the afterlife. Who would be married to this woman? Does God’s law create a problem for the afterlife?
Jesus replied, "The people of this age marry and are given in marriage. But those who are considered worthy of taking part in the age to come and in the resurrection from the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage, and they can no longer die; for they are like the angels. They are God's children, since they are children of the resurrection. (Luke 20:34-36 NIV)
Jesus’ answer not only solved the problem put forth by the Sadducees. It also gives us insight into the reason for marriage. Marriage is the place where we become one flesh and receive the gift of children. These children are needed to fulfill God’s command to be fruitful, multiply, and fill the earth. They are also needed because we eat the forbidden fruit, sin, and die. The human race would not continue without the special relationship of marriage.
But in the account of the burning bush, even Moses showed that the dead rise, for he calls the Lord 'the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.' He is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive." (Luke 20:37-38 NIV)
In the next life, however, we no longer need to fulfill the command to be fruitful, multiply, and fill the earth. We will have already done that. In addition, we will all be allowed to eat from the tree of life so no one will die. We will get to be with God face to face. Our relationships with people will be loving relationships, too, since only those who choose to love God and people in this life will be able to enjoy the next with God. Marriage goes away because we don’t need to procreate and the pleasures of the next life are far greater than anything we have in this. In the future, not only will we not need marriage. We won’t want it. We will be fulfilled with great relationships with everyone.
And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Look! God's dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 'He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death' or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true." He said to me: "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children. (Revelation 21:3-7 NIV)
Don’t get me wrong, I still ask God for adjoining rooms with Traci when we get there. I look forward to my partner in this life still being my best friend in the next. I simply expect that our relationship will move to the next level. It will truly be heavenly.
How about you? Do you look forward to our relationships in the next life? Can you imagine a life with relationships even better than a great marriage?
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