Because God instituted it. When He created Adam, He placed him in the beautiful garden of Eden. Endowed with superior intelligence God commissioned him to name all cattle, the fowl of the air and every beast of the field (Genesis 2:20). One thing was lacking, however. Adam had no companion to love and communicate with. "The Lord God said, it is not good that the man should be alone. I will make an help meet for him" (Genesis 2:18).

To provide such a companion, "God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; and the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he [or, builded] a woman, and brought he; unto the man" (Genesis 2:21,22). Imagine the surprise and joy to awaken and behold a beautiful woman! Adam called her Woman because she was taken out of him. It was then that God stated the purpose of marriage, "Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh" (Genesis 2:24).

She was bone of his bone, and flesh of his flesh. This began the institution of marriage in a relationship of oneness. Indeed, a blessed union for one man and one woman which typifies the spiritual and eternal relationship of Christ and His bride—the Church.

God didn't provide a male companion for Adam, but a very special complement to him. To promote the alarming increase of homosexuals as an "alternative lifestyle" is to actually disobey God and invite His judgment on such a perversion of His planned relationship for man and woman (Romans 1:24-32).

Likewise, the increasing number of "live-in" couples without marriage is bitter bondage to the sin of fornication. This, too, God will judge (1 Corinthians 6:13-20). What devastation results! A recent news report points out the alarming cases of abuse among "live-in" couples stating that a cohabiting woman is 56 times more likely than a wife to be assaulted! Also, marriages preceded by living together have 50% higher divorce or separation rates than marriages without premarital cohabitation. Which lifestyle is better—God's or man's?

Adam being put to sleep that Eve might be builded for him is a beautiful picture of Christ suffering death on the cross that the church which is His bride might be formed. The love He showed in dying is set forth as the example for marriage. " Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for it" (Ephesians 5:25). Then, as to the woman: "Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing" (Ephesians 5:24). Maintaining this balance in marriage will result in the blessing of true happiness.

Why marriage? Because God's way is best, and is proven so by millions of couples who have entered into this divine plan for man. The "oneness" is based upon mutual relationship to Christ and obedience to His Word. The resulting commitment to each other, in dependence upon Christ, assures a true love working to cement the marriage and to bring glory to Christ in every aspect of it.