The divorce rate of second marriages is much higher than in first marriages, and increases as the number of marriages grows. There are several reasons for this. First, people don't fix the problems that led to their first divorce. Second, like anything else, divorce is easier if one has done it before. Finally, though divorce is a physical separation, it is nearly impossible to make an emotional separation.
God says that marriage, which He created, takes two individuals and makes them one flesh (Genesis 2:23-24). A wise man once said marriage is like gluing two pieces of cardboard together. You can pull them apart, but they are both torn, with pieces of each other permanently attached. One cannot be divorced without leaving some of yourself with your former mate, while you always carry some of your former partner with you.
"A wife is not to depart from her husband. But even if she does depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband. And a husband is not to divorce his wife" (1 Corinthians 7:10-11).
If still unmarried, make every effort to reconcile to your first spouse, or remain that way. If remarried, stay that way. A second divorce is not going to correct the mistake made in the first one. The bottom line in any marriage is to make sure you and your spouse love Jesus more than each other. You can't have a successful marriage without its Creator any more than a symphony can produce harmony without the conductor.
Taken from Adrian Rogers' weekly newspaper column. Used by permission. 2001, The Commercial Appeal.
