Will we remember our earthly lives when we are in Heaven

Isaiah 65:17 says, "For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth:
and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind." Some
interpret Isaiah 65:17 as saying that we will have no memory of our
earthly lives in heaven. However, one verse earlier in Isaiah 65:16,
the Bible says, "For the past troubles will be forgotten and hidden
from my eyes." It is likely only our "past troubles" that will be
forgotten, not all of our memories. Our memories will eventually be
cleansed, redeemed, healed, and restored, not erased. There is no
reason why we could not possess many memories from our earthly lives.
The memories that will be cleansed are the ones that involve sin,
pain, and sadness. Revelation 21:4 declares, "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."

The fact that the former things will not come to mind does not mean
that our memories will be wiped clean. The prophecy could be
suggesting the wondrous quality of our new environment. The new earth
will be so spectacular, so mind-blowing, that everyone will quite
forget the drudgery and sin of the current earth. A child who is
scared of the shadows in his room at night completely forgets his
nocturnal fear the next day on the playground. It's not that the
memories have been wiped out, only that, in the sunshine, they don't
come to mind.

Also, it's important to make a distinction between the eternal state
and the current heaven. When a believer dies, he or she goes to
heaven, but that is not our final destination. The Bible speaks of "a
new heaven and a new earth" as our eternal, permanent home. Both
passages quoted above (Isaiah 65:17 and Revelation 21:1) refer to the
eternal state, not the current heaven. The promise of wiping away
every tear does not come until after the tribulation, after the final
judgment, and after the re-creation of the universe.

In his apocalyptic vision, John sees sorrow in heaven: "I saw under
the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of
God and the testimony they had maintained. They called out in a loud
voice, 'How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the
inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?'" (Revelation 6:9–10).
John is obviously in heaven (Revelation 4:1–2), and he sees and hears
those who obviously remember the injustice done to them. Their loud
calls for vengeance indicate that, in the current heaven, we will
remember our lives on earth, including the bad things. The current
heaven of Revelation 6 is temporary, though, giving way to the eternal
state in Revelation 21.

The story of Lazarus and the rich man (Luke 16:19–31) is further proof
that the dead remember their earthly lives. The rich man in hell asks
Abraham to send Lazarus back to earth to warn the rich man's brothers
of the fate awaiting the unrighteous (verses 27–28). The rich man
obviously remembers his relatives. He also remembers his own life of
self-serving and sinful comfort (verse 25). The memories of the rich
man in hell become part of his misery. The story does not mention
whether or not Lazarus has memories, but Abraham has definite
knowledge of goings-on on earth (verse 25). It's not until we reach
the eternal state that the righteous will leave all sorrow behind.

What does the Bible say about karma?

Karma is a theological concept found in the Buddhist and Hindu
religions. It is the idea that how you live your life will determine
the quality of life you will have after reincarnation. If you are
unselfish, kind, and holy during this lifetime, you will be rewarded
by being reincarnated (reborn into a new earthly body) into a pleasant
life. However, if you live a life of selfishness and evil, you will be
reincarnated into a less-than-pleasant lifestyle. In other words, you
reap in the next life what you sow in this one. Karma is based on the
theological belief in reincarnation. The Bible rejects the idea of
reincarnation; therefore, it does not support the idea of karma.

Hebrews 9:27 states, "Just as man is destined to die once, and after
that to face judgment…" This Bible verse makes clear two important
points which, for Christians, negate the possibility of reincarnation
and karma. First, it states that we are "destined to die once,"
meaning that humans are only born once and only die once. There is no
endless cycle of life and death and rebirth, an idea inherent in the
reincarnation theory. Second, it states that after death we face
judgment, meaning that there is no second chance, like there is in
reincarnation and karma, to live a better life. You get one shot at
life and living it according to God's plan, and that is it.

The Bible talks a lot about reaping and sowing. Job 4:8 says, "As I
have observed, those who plow evil and those who sow trouble reap it."
Psalm 126:5 says, "Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of
joy." Luke 12:24 says, "Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap,
they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more
valuable you are than birds!" In each of these instances, as well as
all the other references to reaping and sowing, the act of receiving
the rewards of your actions takes place in this life, not in some
future life. It is a present-day activity, and the references make it
clear that the fruit you reap will be commensurate with the actions
you have performed. In addition, the sowing you perform in this life
will affect your reward or punishment in the afterlife.

This afterlife is not a rebirth or a reincarnation into another body
here on earth. It is either eternal suffering in hell (Matthew 25:46)
or eternal life in heaven with Jesus, who died so that we might live
eternally with Him. This should be the focus of our life on earth. The
apostle Paul wrote in Galatians 6:8-9, "The one who sows to please his
sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who
sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let
us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap
a harvest if we do not give up."

Finally, we must always remember that it was Jesus whose death on the
cross resulted in the reaping of eternal life for us, and that it is
faith in Jesus that gives us this eternal life. Ephesians 2:8-9 tells
us, "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this
not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no
one can boast." Therefore, we see that the concept of reincarnation
and karma is incompatible with what the Bible teaches about life,
death, and the sowing and reaping of eternal life.

What does the Bible say about failure?

To fail from time to time is only human, but to be a "failure" is when
we are defeated by failure, refusing to rise and try again. Christians
sometimes believe they should be immune to failure by virtue of their
relationship with God, but the truth is that God often allows us to
fail for a variety of reasons. Job 14:1 says, "Man born of woman is of
few days and full of trouble." That doesn't say "unbelievers" or "the
ungodly." It says man born of woman. What does that mean? Everyone.
Life is full of trouble, even for those who belong to God through
faith in Christ. We are to expect it. This means God does not promise
life to be without problems, sorrow, and, yes, failure, just because
we believe in Him.

Luke 9:1-5 describes how Jesus sent His disciples out to preach the
gospel and perform miracles. He also taught them how to handle
failure. "If people do not welcome you, shake the dust off your feet
when you leave their town, as a testimony against them." Jesus wanted
the soon-to-be apostles to model themselves after Him. He gave them
power and authority over devils, power to heal the sick, etc. Most of
all, Jesus wanted them to have boldness. He knew that not everyone was
going to receive the truth about Him, but in saying "Shake the dust
from your feet," He meant for them to move on and plow forward.
Witnessing and being rejected can make us feel like failures, but if
we understand we are to expect it (John 15:18), what appears to be
failure actually becomes a badge of honor.

When we feel failure come against us, our first reaction may be to run
or give up. When it comes to sin, we are all capable of avoiding it.
Even in complete love, faith and devotion to God, we can fall, but God
is not shocked by this which is why He sent His Son to die for our
sins. We get back up again, and we start over. But we should know that
we cannot do it alone. We must keep our eyes on our Savior, following
and obeying Him and laying aside the sin that inevitably leads to
spiritual failure, as Hebrews 12:1 says, "Let us throw off everything
that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with
perseverance the race marked out for us." God has marked out a course
for each of us, and sometimes that course includes failure. But when
we cling to the Savior, even our failures can be turned into successes
by the One who controls all things and who strengthens us in our
weakness (Philippians 4:11-13). Our ultimate victory in Jesus is
assured, but complete victory will only come when we are out of this
world of temptation and safe in the arms of the Lord in heaven.

Does the Bible say to follow your heart?

There are many calls to "follow your heart" in movies, novels,
slogans, blogs, and memes. Related pieces of advice are "trust
yourself" and "follow your instincts." A corollary dictum is "your
heart will never lead you astray." The problem is that none of these
quips are biblically supportable.

Rather than trust our hearts, we are to commit our hearts to God:
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own
understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your
paths straight" (Proverbs 3:5–6). This passage gives an explicit
command not to trust ourselves. And it gives the promise of guidance
to those who choose to follow the Lord.

For anything to provide proper direction it must be based on objective
truth. That is to say that whatever is consulted for guidance must
reach a conclusion based on objective truth and not subjective,
emotional inference. The Bible teaches that man is to follow God. God
declares, "Blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence
is in him" (Jeremiah 17:7). God has perfect knowledge of everything (1
John 3:20), a trait often called omniscience. God's knowledge is not
limited in any way. God is aware of all events that have ever
transpired, are currently occurring, and will ever happen (Isaiah
46:9–10). God's knowledge goes beyond mere events and extends to
thoughts and intentions (John 2:25; Acts 1:24). It is not all this
knowledge, however, that makes God a perfectly reliable source of
guidance. God is also aware of every possibility, every eventuality,
every imaginable outcome of any series of events (Matthew 11:21). That
ability, combined with God's goodness, enables God to give the best
possible direction for people to follow.

God says this about the unregenerate heart: "The heart is deceitful
above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?" (Jeremiah
17:9). This passage makes clear two reasons why no one should bind
himself to following his heart when making decisions. First, there is
nothing more deceitful in all of creation than the heart of man
because of his inherited sin nature. If we follow our heart, we follow
an untrustworthy guide.

We are, in fact, blinded to our own heart's deceitful nature. As the
prophet asks, "Who can understand it?" When we rely on ourselves for
wisdom, we end up unable to tell right from wrong.

Second, Jeremiah 17:9 teaches that the heart is desperately sick.
There is no way to fix the heart. Rather, man needs a new heart. That
is why, when a person comes to faith in Christ, he is made a new
creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). Jesus does not fix the heart; instead,
He replaces it with a new one.

But that does not mean that we can rely on our hearts after we come to
faith in Christ. Even as believers, we are encouraged to follow God's
will over our own desires. The Bible teaches that "the flesh desires
what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the
flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do
whatever you want" (Galatians 5:17).

We have an omniscient, benevolent Lord who promises to give us wisdom
(James 1:5); we have His inspired, inerrant Word written down for us
(2 Timothy 3:16). Why would we turn our backs on God and His eternal
promises in order to pursue the whimsical impulses of the heart?

What can we learn from the man of God and the lying prophet?

In 1 Kings 13 we read of a person called only a "man of God" who was
sent by the Lord from Judah to prophesy against King Jeroboam of
Israel. He declared, "O altar, altar, thus says the LORD: 'Behold, a
son shall be born to the house of David, Josiah by name, and he shall
sacrifice on you the priests of the high places who make offerings on
you, and human bones shall be burned on you'" (verse 2). The unnamed
prophet also gave a sign: "Behold, the altar shall be torn down, and
the ashes that are on it shall be poured out" (verse 3).

Jeroboam sought to seize the man, "but the hand he stretched out
toward the man shriveled up, so that he could not pull it back" (1
Kings 13:4). At the same moment, "the altar was split apart and its
ashes poured out according to the sign given by the man of God by the
word of the Lord" (verse 5). The king asked for the man of God to pray
for him and his hand. When he healed the king's hand, the king
attempted to reward him, but the man of God replied, "So was it
commanded me by the word of the LORD, saying, 'You shall neither eat
bread nor drink water nor return by the way that you came'" (verse 9).

This man of God was careful to keep God's three-fold command. He ate
nothing and drank nothing, and he began to walk a different way home.
However, on his way home, another, older prophet came to him, saying,
"I also am a prophet as you are, and an angel spoke to me by the word
of the LORD, saying, 'Bring him back with you into your house that he
may eat bread and drink water'" (verse 18). But this second prophet
was lying. No angel had visited him, and God had not spoken to him
regarding the matter. But the man of God believed the old prophet and
went home with him. At supper the old prophet suddenly received a true
word from God: "This is what the Lord says: 'You have defied the word
of the Lord and have not kept the command the Lord your God gave you.
You came back and ate bread and drank water in the place where he told
you not to eat or drink. Therefore your body will not be buried in the
tomb of your ancestors" (1 Kings 13:21–22). When the man of God left,
"a lion met him on the road and killed him. And his body was thrown in
the road, and the donkey stood beside it; the lion also stood beside
the body" (verse 24).

The prophet who had lied buried the man of God in his own grave and
instructed his own sons to, upon his death, bury him beside the man of
God. In doing these things, the old prophet showed his sincere belief
that the prophet who died had been a true man of God—his prophecies
against the idolaters of Israel would come true (1 Kings 13:31–32).

This account concludes with a note on the king's stubborn refusal to
obey: "After this thing Jeroboam did not turn from his evil way, but
made priests for the high places again from among all the people. Any
who would, he ordained to be priests of the high places. And this
thing became sin to the house of Jeroboam, so as to cut it off and to
destroy it from the face of the earth" (1 Kings 13:33–34).

So we have a prophet who lied and a prophet who died. In this account
we see that both the godly and the ungodly face consequences for
disobedience to the Lord. The evil king faced judgment because of his
idolatry. And the man of God likewise faced judgment for his
disobedience. No one is above the rules.

We also see that sometimes temptations come from surprising quarters.
The king tempted the man of God to break God's command, but the man of
God refused. His guard was up, and there was no way he would disobey
God for the sake of dining with an evil king. However, when a fellow
prophet tempted the man of God to sin, he gave in. His guard was let
down, and he did disobey God for the sake of dining with a (seemingly)
genuine prophet.

When God speaks, the matter is settled. There is never an excuse for
disobeying God's Word. Even a fellow believer—even an angel descending
from heaven—cannot nullify God's Word (cf. Galatians 1:8–9).

10 Women Christian Men Should Never Marry

Often in the quest towards marriage and finding "the one," something
happens. It's easy to overlook things that may not seem that big of a
deal while dating, but these things could be destructive patterns once
married. But love doesn't have to be blind. There's no reason to
settle for unhealthy or harmful relationships, simply to pursue being
married.

We all have sin issues that we deal with on a daily basis. We've all
made mistakes that we often wish we could do-over. We all need the
grace and freedom that only Christ Himself can offer. But our
marriages are healthier when we recognize red flags in our dating
relationships, instead of choosing not to see problems at all.

God cares about the decisions we make. He cares about who we marry.
And we can trust He will give guidance, and help us see some red flags
to be aware of along the way.


1. The Unbeliever – Be careful not to settle for less than what God
would want for the spiritual health and care of your marriage.
Marriage can be tough enough at times, add to that the pressure of
opposing spiritual views, and you may be in big trouble when the
normal stressors of life occur. If you hold vastly different beliefs
now, don't falsely assume you'll get her to "turn around," or change
her ways later. It may happen, but it may not.

"Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has
righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with
darkness?" 2 Cor. 6:14

2. The Abuser – Many times "abusers" are assumed to be men, but women
struggle with this same trap too, and the man in her life may feel
like it's difficult to talk about the problem or find help. Men can
often become the invisible victims of relationship abuse and find
themselves dealing with deep levels of shame, guilt, and inadequacy.

Ps. 11:5 says, "The Lord examines the righteous, but the wicked and
those who love violence, he hates." This verse reminds us of how God
feels about the heart which instigates violence. No one deserves to be
abused. Ever. Move quickly away from the one who brings you physical,
verbal, or deep emotional harm. You are not their saving grace. That
is God's work. Marriage must be built on deep love and respect, and
abuse of any type has no place there.

3. The Controller, Manipulator – This person's subtle, dangerous
behavior can indicate big trouble ahead. What might be disguised as "I
just care about you," can really be a need for constant control or a
heart of jealousy. She may dominate and strive to make decisions for
you, especially in regards to whom you spend your time with. She might
check up on you frequently, keep close tabs, or falsely accuse you of
cheating on her. The one driven by control needs will have continual
issues with whether she can "trust you." Often, under her grasp, you
may start to feel like you can hardly breathe. It's suffocating. It's
supposed to be, that's how you're held tightly.

James 3:16 says, "For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there
will be disorder and every vile practice." And that is no place to
start a marriage.

4. The Angry, Contentious Woman – If your partner can't control her
temper before you're married, she most certainly won't after you're
married. In most cases, her behavior will worsen. No matter what our
personality type, it still doesn't give us room to plow over anyone in
our pathway with cruel words and rants. Take time to see how she
responds in different scenarios, especially when under pressure.

Proverbs 25:24, "It is better to live in a corner of the roof than in
a house shared with a contentious woman." This is more than, "I'm just
having a bad day." An angry, quarrelsome disposition has a pattern of
negativity, harsh words, and flaring tempers. The key is – does she
realize it's an area of weakness that she desires for God to change?
If the answer is "no," steer clear.

5. The Seducer – Behaviors established before marriage are not going
to magically go away once you say, "I do." Sexual sin can be a deep
trap of the enemy and once ensnared in these destructive patterns,
they are difficult to break. Yet the pain or mistakes of the past
should hold no control over our present and future. God redeems, sets
free, and desires to make us new.

Make the choice together to live by His standards in your
relationship. The lies of the world say that sex before marriage is
normal, no big deal. Yet it's a huge deal. Don't fall for the enemy's
lie. The heart of Christ seeks the best for the one they love,
desiring to build up, protect, and encourage healthy, safe patterns.

In the story of Joseph in Genesis 39, we see Potiphar's wife pursuing
him with sexual advances day after day. It was relentless. But he did
not fall. The Bible says, "he fled." Wise man.

6. The Deceiver, Liar - Every marriage must be built on trust. Without
this as a firm foundation, you're in for trouble from the beginning.
So what about those "little white lies" you started noticing along the
way? In reality, there's no such thing as little white lies. Any lie
is meant to hide, deceive, or manipulate truth. There is no room for
dishonesty in a healthy, loving relationship. It's a dangerous trap
and you will always be left wondering what she's hiding.

In Judges 16, we read the story of Delilah, who plotted and tricked
the strong man Samson, ultimately deceiving him. He was foolishly
lured by her entices and fell into deep destruction because of it.
Left to our own thoughts, we, like Samson, may miss the signal that
there's trouble ahead.

7. The Addict – This person needs freedom that can only come by
admitting there's a problem, seeking professional help and leaning on
the strength that God can bring. Addiction to alcohol, drugs,
pornography, or destructive habits will lead to deep troubles ahead.
And though your relationship may seem to challenge her in the right
direction, don't be fooled that she'll so quickly "give it all up for
you," without the aid and accountability of professional help.

You are not the one to set her free and your role is not to try to
change their heart. Only God can do that. 1 Cor. 6:12 says, "All
things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable. All
things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered by anything."

8. The Narcissist, Diva - No matter how beautiful, talented, and
charming she may seem, marriage is built on the word "together." If
the relationship before marriage seems to constantly be all about her,
you may be in for some struggle ahead. The "Diva" generally refers to
one who demands the center of attention and focus at the expense of
others' feelings. Humility, compassion, love, and respect are much
more admirable characteristics than simply the externals. "Charm is
deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be
praised" Prov. 31:30.

9. The Gold Digger/Big Spender - Secretive spending habits? More
interested in your bank account or what you can buy her, than in you?
Once married, these patterns can worsen when the stressors of family
life and responsibilities mount high. Money problems and financial
struggles are one of the main causes of divorce. Look for the red
flags and decide up front if the two of you can agree on the big
issues. "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some
people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced
themselves with many griefs" 1 Tim. 6:10.

10. The One Who Won't Leave the Nest – It's difficult to live a future
of becoming one flesh when either partner is still joined too tightly
to their parents. Nothing wrong with having close, healthy
relationships with our parents throughout life, until you allow it to
consume your decision making or control your marriage. Parents are
meant to offer protection to children, even adult children. But upon
marriage, the spouse should be given that primary place of leadership
and care, under God's authority. Talk about healthy boundaries before
you marry, don't dismiss it as "no big deal." You may find out later
how big a deal it was. "For this reason a man shall leave his father
and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one
flesh." Gen. 2:24

The healthiest marriages are not made up of two seemingly "perfect"
people, but two forgiven people who have the capacity, by the grace of
God, to keep offering forgiveness to one another.

God's Word gives guidance for marriage and offers plenty of examples
for wise living. It really comes down to a choice. What do we believe
about what He says, and will we look to Him for wisdom in
relationships and in how we live our lives?

There's a battle over marriages today, and the enemy would love
nothing more than to destroy yours before it's hardly even begun, or
to entice you into a harmful one. Don't let Him win. Search God's Word
for what He has to say. His are the words that matter most.

10 MEN CHRISTIAN WOMEN SHOULD NOT MARRY

Divorce for Christians (except for 1 reason) is never permitted by
God. Hence, you must choose well. Outside of your decision to follow
Jesus, marriage will be your 2nd greatest decision in life. So, here's
my take on a paramount issue.

10 Men Christian Women Should Not Marry:

1. The Unbeliever. Seems quite simple, but I've met too many who've
married unbelievers thinking that they'll change them. Rarely happens.
"Missionary Dating" is unbiblical and will only rob you of true
marital bliss. Remember that God forbids it: "Do not be yoked together
with unbelievers." (2 Cor 6:14)

What then, is a believer?  A Christian essentially is someone who
believes in the gospel of Jesus Christ.  What then, is the gospel?
The gospel is: 1. God is holy, loving, and just.  He therefore, must
condemn all sinners to punishment in the flames of eternal hell;  2.
You and I are all sinners who deserve nothing but God's wrath in hell
after our deaths; 3. God loved humanity so much that He sent His only
Son, Jesus (who was fully God and fully man), to die on the cross for
your sins.  Jesus paid the debt for your sins and absorbed God's wrath
on your behalf.  3 days later, Jesus resurrected from the dead; 4. If
you repent (turn from) all your sins and personally put your faith in
Jesus Christ as your Lord, God and Savior, then you will have eternal
life.

2. The Younger Man. Now, I wouldn't necessarily call this one a sin,
but I would certainly say that it is not God's ideal. (And why would
you want anything less than God's ideal for marriage?)  We all know
that wives are called to submit to their husbands, as to the Lord (Eph
5:22). God explicitly calls men to be the spiritual leaders of their
families. En route to making the first marriage, God created Adam
first, and then Eve. Did God have a wise reason for creating Adam
first or was the first marriage randomly constructed by God?
According to the apostle Paul, it was not done arbitrarily. Instead,
this was done for the sake of authority. As Paul informs us, authority
flows from chronology: "I do not permit a woman to teach or to
exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet. For
Adam was formed first, then Eve" (1 Timothy 2:13-14). In other words,
age matters–generally within society but especially within marriage
(hence, Paul's use of "Adam and Eve").  Evidently, within the First
Marriage, God intended chronology (age) to be a reason for authority.

I would definitely call for wives who are already married in this
situation to still submit to their younger husbands as the Bible
commands (divorce is not an option), but they'll need an extra measure
of God's grace as the natural fallen tendency of all daughters of Eve
is to usurp their husbands' authority (Gen 3:16). To those who are not
yet wed, I would plead with you to marry an older Christian man. It is
God's ideal and your marriage will be happier for it.

Don't want to believe that God knew what He was doing when He
intentionally made the male older in the First Marriage?  Okay then,
here's some statistics from secular research that backs up God's
wisdom:

"If you're a woman two or more years older than your husband, your
marriage is 53 percent more likely to end in divorce than if he was
one year younger to three years older."

Marrying an older man shortens a woman's lifespan, but having a
younger husband reduces it even more, the study found.

A new study shows that women who marry men seven to nine years younger
than they are increase their mortality risk by 20 percent.

3. The Spiritually Younger Man. Though age is important, a man's
spiritual maturity is also important (and by the way, please don't
bamboozle yourself by saying, "Well, as long as he's SPIRITUALLY older
than me, his age doesn't matter–as I've laid out in point two, it does
matter!). Look for a man who will love you as Christ loved the Church
(Eph 5:25), and if he doesn't even know "how" Christ loved the Church,
then it's time for you to find another man. He must lead you as Christ
led His Church. Too many women date spiritually immature men who only
lead them to the murky waters of marital spiritual loneliness. Make
sure he's grounded in a local church. Speak to his pastor and his
elders. Have devotionals together. Marriage is a serious decision.
Take serious steps.

4. The Divorced Man. This one's fairly straight-forward in Scripture:
"Everyone who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery,
and he who marries a woman divorced from her husband commits adultery"
(Luke 16:18;

Bottom line: Any 2nd marriage is adultery in the eyes of God, unless
the 1st marriage terminated due to adultery.

What to do if you're in a 2nd marriage that's really viewed as
adultery in the eyes of God?  Same thing I would advise a "married"
gay couple if they came to faith in Christ–immediately break it up!
Of course, it won't be emotionally easy, but the eternal destiny of
your soul depends upon a correct response on this issue (1 Cor 6:9).


5. The Angry Man. Men who cannot control their emotions prior to
marriage will, in all likelihood, be angry men after marriage. Try not
to rationalize this one by saying, "Well, I deserved that…I made him
angry." Outbursts of anger are bouts of sin and there's no excuse.
Furthermore, those things usually turn into domestic abuse later on.
Remember, marriage is about love. I know, it sounds easy to remember,
but you'd be surprised.
"Fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness,
orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before,
that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God."
(Galatians 5:20-21 ESV)

6. The Self-Admirer. I know, I know, you want a good looking spouse.
That desire is not a bad thing. But if a man is spending more time at
the gym and in front of the mirror than at church and in God's Word,
then that man won't love you as Christ loved the Church. In fact, he
won't love you–period. He loves himself and he probably just wants you
for physical pleasure. If he's changing profile pictures often,
obsessing over his looks and photo angles, then be wary. "For
everything in the world–the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes,
and the pride of life–comes not from the Father but from the world."
(1 John 2:16)

7. The Dishonest. Marriage is built on trust. Without it, the entire
enterprise quickly unravels. Women, if he's lied to you before
marriage, he'll keep it up after. If he's having sex before marriage,
he'll likely cheat on you after marriage. Look for a honest guy. Pray
for one. Remember that the devil is the father of lies (John 8:44).

8. The Addict. Whether it's porn or drugs, if you've discovered that
your boyfriend is an addict, stop dating him and talk to his church
leaders about it. At the moment, the man needs help–not a wife. Men
who've covered up their sins while continuing to go to church are some
of the worst deceivers. They're also usually self-deluded. And no
matter how much he pleads with you, let it go. The man needs Jesus–not
a woman. Until the bondage is broken, release him to Christ (Exodus
20:3).

9. The Idle. If his idea of an ideal marriage is letting you work
while he stays home sleeping and relaxing, then you should find
another man. There is a deep theology to work and in fact, if the man
is not providing for his family, the Bible calls him worse than an
unbeliever (1 Timothy 5:8).

10. The Un-Evangelist. Okay, maybe I made up the term, but the point
is clear (Mark 16:15). If the man says that he believes in the gospel
of Jesus Christ–meaning that there is 1. a literal hell awaiting
unbelievers, 2. grace and pardon available to all who put their faith
in Jesus–but he simultaneously does NOT evangelize…does he really
believe? Does he really love God? Does he really love people? Will he
ever love you the way Christ loved and died for His Church (when
evidently, he's too ashamed to even proclaim the death of Christ)?

Self-proclaimed atheist Penn Jillette once put it well:
"I've always said that I don't respect people who don't proselytize. I
don't respect that at all. If you believe that there's a heaven and a
hell, and people could be going to hell or not getting eternal life,
and you think that it's not really worth telling them this because it
would make it socially awkward—and atheists who think people shouldn't
proselytize and who say just leave me alone and keep your religion to
yourself—how much do you have to hate somebody to not proselytize? How
much do you have to hate somebody to believe everlasting life is
possible and not tell them that? I mean, if I believed, beyond the
shadow of a doubt, that a truck was coming at you, and you didn't
believe that truck was bearing down on you, there is a certain point
where I tackle you. And this is more important than that."

All that's very true. How much do you have to hate somebody to not
evangelize? "How much do you have to hate somebody to believe
everlasting life is possible and not tell them that?" Unless, of
course, he really doesn't believe…but then, we would discover
ourselves back at warning point number 1 of this post.

Choose well, ladies. The church loves you and prays for you to have
delightful, God-honoring marriages. May God bless and guide your way.