There are a lot of things a father could share at a moment like this.  A lot of things about marriage and life.  What it means to follow God through all of that.  The hopes and desires that we as your parents have for you.

In John 16:33, Jesus is to the point - blunt.  Jesus tells His disciples:  I have said these things to you, that in Me you may have peace.  In the world you will have tribulation.  But take heart; I have overcome the world.

The first thing I would like to share with you is to always remember who the real enemy is.

Jesus talks about tribulation.  In the way that Jesus is using the word it’s like trying to cram too much stuff into a suitcase - then pushing down on it and trying to get it to close.  Tons of pressure applied and something’s gonna get pushed out of shape.  Being compressed, stressed, and distressed.

Marriage is like that.  No matter how amazing your spouse is - no matter how much you have going for you - marriage is hard.  Hard work.  Hard to hang in there.

At some time in their marriage most husbands or wives contemplate the untimely demise of their spouse.  Over half of the couples who will get married today will not stay married.  Many people have just given up on marriage.  It’s too out dated.  Not necessary.  Too much work.  There’s just too much pain.  They’ve seen too many failures.

Andrew and Dylan - son - daughter - to stand here this afternoon - before all of us - before God - the covenant you are making - the mutual commitment to life-long marriage according to how God defines marriage - to be committed to exclusively honor and cherish and serve and sacrifice for each other - to pursue God individually and together - to live out that commitment so that God is glorified in you and through you - to make that commitment means that you will have tribulation.

Jesus says, “In the world you will have tribulation.”

In the Bible, the word “world” describes humanity.  The world of human culture and thought and philosophy and government and intelligence and business and all the things we do and think that make us human.  What is at best indifferent to God.  But is decidedly against God - against God’s people.  Against what God wills for His people.

The Bible tells us that our adversary Satan seeks to use the things of this world to turn us against each other - to turn us away from God - to destroy us.  Meaning:  Choose to follow God in marriage and Satan will use everything he can to turn you against each other and to destroy your marriage - your relationship with God - your testimony for God.

Which is why remembering who the real enemy is is so crucial.  It’s not Andrew.  It’s not Dylan.  At some point you may be tempted to think it is.  This is just too hard.  I’ve given all I can.  Remember:  Your real adversary is Satan.

The second thing I want to share with you is to always remember in Whom the real victory lies.  Jesus.

Jesus said, “But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

“Take heart” - meaning “Get a grip”  When you’re tribulating - get a grip on your heart.  Grab some confidence.  Grab some courage.  Grab some truth - some reality - some perspective.

Why?  “I - Jesus - have overcome the world.”      

To “overcome” is to triumph over.  To decimate and crush and utterly obliterate the opposition.

John 16:33 comes on the evening when Jesus is talking to His disciples on the night He was betrayed - the beginning of the sequence of events leading to His crucifixion.  Jesus preparing His disciples for the tribulation they’re about to go through. 

Jesus goes to the cross.  Takes our sin - the penalty for our sin.  Takes care of whatever needs to be taken care of in our relationship with God - to make us right with God - to restore our relationship with God.  By His work on the cross on our behalf Jesus deals with all of it - completely - totally - finally - victoriously.  Victoriously - meaning what we celebrated last Sunday - Jesus’ resurrection.

Unquestioned dominance and authority over sin and death - the worst of this world.  Jesus can tell sin and death what to go do with itself and it must.

Jesus takes Satan’s best shot.  The worst of what Satan - using the stuff of this world - the worst that Satan can throw at Him - even death itself - and Jesus totally triumphs.  Overwhelmingly overcomes the world.  Even the worst of what Satan can throw at us.  The worst of what he can throw at your marriage.

The peace Jesus is talking about - “I said these things to you, that in Me you may have peace” - that peace is a deep heart level settledness within that grounds us despite what’s going on around you - in your marriage. 

That peace doesn’t come by following the wisdom and knowledge or whatever of this world - ultimately all that is being manipulated by Satan against us anyway.  Or by our somehow sucking it up - gritting our teeth and just trying harder - trying to make our marriage work.

That peace, Jesus says, is only found in Him.  Jesus who’s overcome the world.

After 55 years of life - some good - some not so good - and almost 28 years of marriage - from my heart I can tell you without question or doubt that the only way to know peace is get a grip on what’s really going on - who your real adversary is and to stay completely focused on Jesus who is the only victory.

Meaning - Dylan and Andrew - daughter and son - do whatever it takes - at the heart level - at the core of who you are - do whatever it takes to stay focused on Jesus - to follow Him through life.  And let go of everything that keeps you from following Him.

It’s true.  The couple that prays together… stays together.  Pray together.  Read His word together.  Serve Him together.  Worship Him together.  Encourage each other to individually follow Him.  Seek Him - His will - His wisdom - His direction.  Be unwavering - unmoved - uncompromising in that commitment regardless of what comes and you will experience God’s peace - and victory - in the midst of whatever comes to you in life.

Remember who the real adversary is.  Remember in Whom the real victory lies.

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Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®  (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved.