I remember last year when the legislation was going through the General Assembly. It seemed that the Illinois State Senate passed it without much fuss, but it wasn't such a piece of cake for it to pass the House. Its sponsor, Greg Harris, even got up and spoke at the end of the May 2013 session that he wouldn't call it for a vote because he wasn't confident it would be approved by enough House representatives.
There was a sense of hope that the legislation could be defeated. That was the hope that urged me to take a stand for one man-one woman marriage by going to Springfield for Defend Marriage Lobby Day, sponsored by the Illinois Family Institute, and to take my stand for opposing RFMF.
So it was with disappointment and heartache just a couple weeks later when I heard the news that the House had passed the bill, which meant it would become law because it already passed the Senate and Governor Quinn was adamant about signing it.
If not outwardly, I cringed inwardly when I heard about Speaker Mike Madigan twisting the words that Pope Francis had spoken during a press conference the summer before stating, in regards to homosexual priests seeking God, "Who I am to judge?", as justification for passing the legislation during the debate before the vote.
As I took in the news, that my dear home state had taken this turn for the worst, I couldn't help but think, Why did this have to happen? The legislation passed the House with a very close vote, and it could have easily have been voted down.
As I processed this, my thoughts turned to the seminal event of Christian faith: the crucifixion. Christ was condemned by the religious authorities, who wanted to practice religion their own way. When Christ was brought before Pilate, the governor insisted He was innocent and wanted to release Him. Yet at the trial of Jesus, the cries of the crowd for crucifixion prevailed, and Pilate gave in and sentenced Jesus to be crucified.
Many of Jesus's followers and disciples looked to Him as the One from God who would save Israel. Therefore, it didn't make sense to them that Jesus would die. He was supposed to conquer the world, not be conquered by it.
Yet through the awful and senseless killing of Jesus Christ, God was able to bring about the salvation of the world, and give new Life to His people when Christ rose from the dead on the third day.
Similarly, the cries of the LGBTQ advocates, emotional and otherwise, demanded that the law be changed so they could be allowed to consummate their love with the benefits of marriage. But there were, and are, plenty in this state who believe otherwise, and they raised their voices, too.
It would have been great if the legislation had been voted down and marriage in Illinois could have been preserved as the union between one man and one woman. And it was so close. Why did it have to happen?
As God was able to draw something good out of the awful event of the Crucifixion, I think something similar can definitely be said of this situation. While it's terrible that marriage has been redefined in Illinois, I'm sure it is all part of God's plan for this world. While it seems God has been defeated in a way by this law, I know that God will ultimately triumph on the "third day", and all unrighteousness, that which is not of Him, shall fade away. That is why I will keep on waiting upon God, standing for the truth that marriage is a sacred gift He has granted to humanity to be a life-long relationship between a man and a woman, modeling the love that He has shown to us humanity.
Somehow, even in this awful mess that exists, I know that God will redeem it and draw out of it a glorious triumph. And as I join God's people in waiting upon Him in these troubling times, I know we shall share in the triumph.
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