I know a young man in his late twenties who has had a very unusual experience with life. He comes from a large family of large families. He has more than eighty first cousins. That’s not the unusual part I’m talking about though.

It’s this: from the two generations above him – his parents’ and grandparents’ through his own generation – there are no divorces in his family. True, his family has a rich Christian heritage but can we attribute their success in marriage to that? After all, the divorce rate among Christians mirrors that of non-Christians in the United States.

I don’t know their family profile in depth but from what I understand, they practice what in today’s culture is a radical style of Christianity. They believe: “But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.” (James 1:22) So in other words they don’t just talk the talk, they actually walk the walk. This method has produced solid enduring marriages.

Think how many heartaches and griefs this man and his cousins have NOT had because their parents have NOT divorced. They are blessed indeed!

Can we ever go back to the good old days? Can keeping vows become the standard again and divorce the exception? Yes, it is possible. Over and over again in human history, when things have gotten the darkest spiritually, God shows up and stirs revival in men’s souls.

Let’s pray for that. God will answer. And while we wait, we don’t have to sit twiddling our thumbs. We can keep our own selves busy just doing God’s Word.