God Created Male and Female

On last Sunday’s services, we preached on the sixth day of God’s creation. God made the earth bring forth livestock, creeping things and beasts all according to their kinds. Then God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. God created both male and female to display His image.

Boaz and Debbie who are husband and wife and our co-workers came to the Tree of Life six years ago. Their broken lives and relationship then gradually have recovered. They were in deep despair in the early days of their marriage because Boaz was totally stuck in the homosexuality despite many efforts of Debbie.

Since young, Boaz was taught not to cry but to be very forgiving because he is a male. He found that very unfair. Over the time, he was greatly twisted and deeply discontent. Therefore, he thought that it would be better for him to be a girl. The gender issue did not go away even after marriage. Instead, he was in greater agony facing his wife. But thank God, on the first day of his daughter’s birth, the fatherly love given by God was kindled within him. Looking at his precious daughter, he reckoned that women were born to be loved and protected. Gradually, he took to heart the truth that God had created male and female.

When their family first came to Hong Kong, Debbie was sad all the time. Her original family was dysfunctional and her marriage suffered heavy blows right at the start. Feeling rejected and destitute, she had no strength to dress up or to help her husband. Six years passed, they have been married for 15 years now and their lives have been turned around. Being nourished in love and enlightened by the Truth in the Tree of Life community, Boaz is strengthened to face his problems. During the book-writing club, he realized the God-given strength of a man is to love and care for his family. It is not for him to vent his anger in violence and crush his vulnerable wife and children. He then acknowledged his duties as a husband and the head of the family. He would not touch screwdriver in the past but now he can fix the sofa at home and helps with manual work in the media department. As Debbie’s father has just passed away not long ago, Boaz made a great effort to prepare a family photo for Debbie on her birthday and genuinely promised her to care for her, cover her and give her a happy home all her life. Deeply moved, she has learned to trust him even more.

Thank God for saving their lives and family! As men, our genders are created by God and not by our freewill choices. God’s image includes both male and female. Hence, we should embrace our genders and identities and walk in God’s order. Then our interpersonal relationships, marriages and families shall be blessed by God!■【2023.12.17】