The Two Are One

"It began in a garden..."

I observed a couple working in perfect harmony, trimming their bushes together. It almost seemed like a perfectly choreographed dance as she trimmed and he lopped off branches together, each one helping the other.

And I had an epiphany watching this couple work in their garden:

What started as one

Became two.

What was two

Became one.

When God said it is not good for man to be alone, He placed Adam in a deep sleep and removed a rib from his side. God then fashioned Eve and created a companion for him to live and work with him in the garden. I imagine that rib was right by Adam’s heart and a constant reminder that she was the flesh of his flesh, bone of his bone, now created and breathed to life, and a constant reminder to love her well.

God’s Word is still the same: it is not good for man to be alone… He designed us for companionship. And for those who have lost a spouse through death or divorce, it causes an ache, a void, a wound in the soul that only God can heal!

"God created us for companionship..."

In this season of marriages, I’m often reminded of that verse and how, when couples stand at an altar and take their vows, they shall now become one before the eyes of God, others, and legally.

Husbands and wives are to complement each other: where one is weak, the other is strong. Marriage is to be a reflection of unity and of giving up self and self-reliance to now have a partner to lean into, to indeed become one flesh with. It’s a process of sharing life and faith, burdens and labor, cares and joys, a growing family life, and much more. That unity is having intimacy only between the two who are now one in that union.

And marriage, or the two becoming one, is a picture of our union with Christ. In essence, it’s like we become married to Him and forsake all others to share a life of unity and intimacy with Him and walk with Him in this life. It’s knowing we are never alone and we have a forever Companion to share life with.

It’s a beautiful mystery.

And as I sit on my porch and observe the couple co-laboring together, gardening in their backyard, and helping one another, I’m reminded again of this truth. The one became two, so the two can become one.

"They worked in tandem..."

Beloved:

I didn’t design you to be alone. And My love was expressed in the creation of Adam and Eve and all mankind from thenceforth. I’ve granted you the same companionship to teach you dependence and intimacy with one another, so you can learn the same from Me. Learn to lean on Me and turn to Me in deeper ways. And if you are alone, then I am your constant companion. Never doubt My love, beloved one, and that I am always by your side. Always.

“So, the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, He took one of the man’s ribs... Then the Lord God made woman from the rib He had taken out of the man, and He brought her to the man.” (Genesis 2: 21-22)

“The man said, ‘This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called “woman,” for she was taken out of man.’” (Genesis 2: 23)

“And the two shall become one flesh; so, then they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, let not man separate.” (Mark 10: 8-9)