Rick Warren, Pastor of Saddleback Church in Southern California and author of the “Purpose Driven Life” series, writes something quite profound regarding surrender. “If you surrender to God“, he says, “you don’t have to fear or surrender to anything else”.
By the end of July 1945, the Imperial Japanese Navy was incapable of conducting major operations and an Allied invasion was imminent. The United States called for the unconditional surrender of the Japanese armed forces—the alternative being “prompt and utter destruction”.
Unconditional surrender is what Jesus meant when he said, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me”.
Vincent Collins writes in his booklet, Acceptance,” ...the Way of the Cross may be hard, but it remains the only road to happiness, serenity, and peace in this life.”
Truth is, if you’re not surrendered to God, you’ve surrendered to something or someone else. Perhaps you’ve surrendered to peer pressure or the demands of family. Perhaps you’ve surrendered to a life of pleasure or greed or wealth or lust or depression. The list is endless.
Jesus said, “For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
Surrender. Giving up your way, your choices, your will to the God who created all that is. Surrender to the God that created you. And after you’ve truly surrendered your life to Him, what then? His peace, His power, His love that vanquishes all fear is yours! Now and into eternity!
