Graveled ground leads up to a browned barn. Hay raked to the inside corner of its walls. Stables to each side, horses filling a few, others left empty.
The Quilted Bed:
Cozy white light is filtered through the window curtains. Lighting even the furthest corners of the fluffy carpet. Rows are showin in the carpet, showing it's been recently vacuumed. The quilt is folded at the foot of the bed, and drapes over the edge with the comforter. Bed posts and frame made of solid wood, darkened with both wood staining and age. Yet, the age only slightly shows in the quilt threads, the room as a whole looks fairly ageless.
And I ask of you ... which do you sleep in? Which do you work in? I bet the answer is work belongs in the stable, and sleep belongs on the bed.
Same is true with spouses. You can work with the animals, the dirt, and the open barn doors. But, sleep where it is safest, and cleanest.
I use sleep as a metaphor. Sleep is the time when we are at our most vulnerable. When our guard is down the most. Whereas, work is when we are at our strongest. Guard at full alert.
So, why is it important to have a Christian spouse? Because our spouse is there through it all... Sure, there when we are at our strongest... But, also there when our guard is put away for the night. Fellow brothers and sisters are already sinners. We are all made as such, to truly understand why we need God. But, we also have the foundation of faith. That through our obedience we don't have to be perfect.
But, when we are without guard, we are more open to the elements of the other side of things. It may not be direct... It may not be the barn, but it may be the cold... or any other element we're open to out in the barn. These elements are more pronounced in the unbelievers' lives. And what is their response should you say "but... The Bible says..."? "The cold can not harm you..."... "The wolves don't come this close to the barn..." etc.
In other words, it isn't that they directly mean harm. They could... but, most times it's just a matter of them putting us in harms way, where God says not to sleep.
We are to confess ourselves to one another. A nonbeliever will question some of those morals, and may not get your confession. To say nothing of their less likely attitude towards reciprocating their confessions.
There are many, many other examples where the Bible gives us advice about things that are less likely to be upheld by those without the Spirit dwelling in them. Which just boils down to opening us up for indirect (at best) lashing from elements we were advised to avoid.
It's Paramount! We can't even begin, nor should we want to be yoked with unbelievers. 2nd Corinthians 6:14, Light has no fellowship with darkness Ephesians 5:11, The natural man(unbeliever receives the things of this world, the Spiritual receives things of the Spirit. 1st Corinthians 2:9-16, Ecclesiastes 4:9-11, Coming into agreement with each other Amos 3:3, We are only setting ourselves up for disaster if we are unequally yoked. Sad to say I was trapped in a marriage just like this one for 15 hellacious yrs.:(. He even worked in Christian ministry and had a Biblestudy at his house.Yet he was physically violent and habitually unfaithful:( It is better to remain single and serve God unhindered than to live in hell with a spouse who does not have the same goals, ideals and values, Even when it comes to there "Christian walk." Or where you want to step out in ministry, or do missions work. A continual fight ensues at the smallest things you want to do for God. Besides speaking from a womans stand point here. God made the right man to be the Spiritual leader and Priest over your home. When unequally yoked it forces you into a place of rebellion, even Jezebel usurping his authority taking on the leadership role in Prayer, Biblestudy, and church attendance etc. that God never designed or intended for you to take. Your Heart & Spirit are crying out for God in a deep hunger for more of Him. While a silent scream inside of you that only God hears is crying out to be released from such bondages. Romans 8:15, Malachi 2:14-16, How can we agree and come together as God desires if we are so at odds with each other. An unbeliever has such a different view on life. Whether religion, disciplining the children, holidays, etc.We must be on the same page Spiritually and have a desire to grow more greatly in the things of God which means allowing each other to be submitted and humbled enough to be teachable and willing to yield to God's Word and His ways and to learn together and be willing to learn from each other:) Ephesians 5:21-33
