Gorilla Glue "I Do:" God's Design for Marriage
- revorges
- Sep 12
- 4 min read
Beyond Velcro Vows
In the last post, we saw how contract marriages resemble Velcro—easy to attach, easy to detach, fragile under stress. But God never designed marriage to be Velcro. His vision is radically stronger, deeper, and more enduring.
If Velcro pictures the cultural view of marriage, Gorilla Glue pictures the biblical one.
Why Gorilla Glue?
Gorilla Glue is famous for its strength. Once two surfaces are joined, pulling them apart is nearly impossible. To separate them, you often have to break one or both objects because the bond itself won’t give.
That’s what covenant marriage is meant to be: not temporary, not conditional, but bonded by God Himself in a way that holds through pressure.
It may not sound romantic to compare marriage to industrial glue, but it’s a powerful picture. Gorilla Glue isn’t flashy, but it’s reliable. It does what it promises—bond permanently. Marriage is meant to be the same: not fragile, not temporary, but enduring and unshakable.
God's Design for Marriage
Marriage as covenant is seen from the very beginning. Genesis 2:24 says, “Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.”
This “one flesh” union is not poetic imagery—it’s a profound reality of emotional, spiritual, physical, and covenantal bonding. Jesus later affirms in Matthew 19:6: “What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.”
Marriage is not merely a human arrangement. It is a divine joining. God Himself seals the bond.
Covenant vs. Contract
Contract: Temporary, based on performance, self-protective.
Covenant: Permanent, based on promise, self-giving.
The difference is enormous. A contract says, “I’ll stay if you hold up your end.” A covenant says, “I’ll stay even if you don’t.”
That’s exactly how God relates to His people. Over and over, Israel broke covenant, yet God remained faithful. Hosea 2:19–20 portrays His heart: “I will betroth you to me forever… in steadfast love and in mercy.”
The Covenant in Marriage
Marriage reflects this divine covenant. Ephesians 5:25–32 calls husbands to love their wives as Christ loved the church—sacrificially, faithfully, permanently. Christ does not abandon His bride when she fails. He holds her, redeems her, sanctifies her.
Marriage is meant to mirror that faithfulness. When a husband and wife remain committed, they reflect God’s covenant love to a watching world.
The Biblical Thread of Covenant
If you trace the story of Scripture, God consistently relates to His people through covenant.
Noah: God promised never again to flood the earth.
Abraham: God promised descendants, land, and blessing.
Moses and Israel: God gave the Law to bind His people in relationship.
David: God promised an eternal throne.
Christ: The New Covenant sealed in His blood (Luke 22:20).
Marriage is designed to echo these divine covenants—unbreakable, sacred, binding. That’s why Malachi 2:14 calls marriage explicitly a covenant.
When spouses remain faithful to one another, they display in miniature the faithfulness of God to His people.
Gorilla Glue Faithfulness in Practice
What does covenant commitment look like?
Staying through storms. When finances, health, or circumstances strain the marriage, covenant keeps you bonded. Temporary couples break under pressure; covenant couples grow stronger.
Choosing forgiveness. When offense comes—and it will—covenant chooses reconciliation over resentment. Forgiveness is not easy, but it is essential.
Investing for the long haul. Covenant marriages think in decades, not days. They build habits of prayer, service, and intimacy that strengthen over time.
Refusing escape language. Covenant couples don’t say, “If this doesn’t work out…” They say, “By God’s grace, we will make this work.”
The Blessings of Gorilla Glue “I Do’s”
Covenant marriage produces blessings Velcro vows never can:
Security. You know your spouse won’t leave at the first sign of trouble.
Intimacy. True vulnerability thrives only when there’s safety.
Joy. Long-term faithfulness produces a joy that shallow thrills never match.
Witness. Covenant marriage points people to God’s faithful love.
A Story of Covenant Faithfulness
I once knew a couple married for over 50 years. They endured financial hardship, health crises, and seasons of tension. But when asked their secret, they said simply: “We never gave ourselves the option to quit.”
That’s Gorilla Glue commitment. Their marriage wasn’t perfect, but it was permanent. And that permanence created safety, intimacy, and joy that lasted a lifetime.
Practical Takeaways for Couples Today
Revisit your vows. Remember the promises you made before God and others. They were covenant promises, not conditional terms.
Build spiritual intimacy. Pray together. Read Scripture together. Worship together. These habits reinforce covenant.
Seek accountability. Surround your marriage with community who believe in covenant and will support you.
Practice daily faithfulness. The big moments matter, but the daily habits—listening, forgiving, serving—hold marriages together.
Remember God’s covenant with you. His faithfulness fuels your faithfulness.
Bonded for Life
Marriage is not meant to be Velcro. It’s meant to be Gorilla Glue. When you said “I do,” you entered not just a partnership but a covenant.
Hold fast. Stay faithful. Reflect the God who never lets go.
In a disposable culture, nothing is more countercultural—or more powerful—than a couple who keeps their covenant every day, for good.
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