“I surrender!” Paradoxically, two of the most powerful words in the human lexicon.
I submit there are two kinds of surrender; coerced and compliant. Coerced is when you are forced to capitulate, and if restraints are removed, resistance resumes. Compliant surrender is when you choose to. And even if given the option, will remain subdued.
I can illustrate, but you’re not going to like it. Permit me to describe our two weenie dogs. Yes, dreaded pet stories. That’s about as enrapturing as when folks unfold endless photos of their grandkids. Indulge me. First is Fugu (pronounced foo-goo). He is black with neat brown dots for eyebrows. When he sees you in the yard, he stops, drops, and flops on his back. He’s yours. Gizmo, the other guy, is fittingly colored red. His intense personality makes me search for a label stitched into his hide reading “Made in Germany”. On the rare occasion when you seize him and interrupt his relentless quest for Geckos, you best hold tightly. Let go and he’s gone! “Hounds to the hunt!” Both dogs surrender; one is compliant, the other coerced.
I have stood on the deck of the Battleship USS Missouri. On those weathered teak planks, September 2, 1945 in Tokyo Bay, representatives of the Imperial Forces of Japan signed the official certificate of surrender. It was effectively coerced. I have stood on busy streets of modern day Tokyo. Innocent civilians and returning soldiers alike persistently picked up the pieces and rebuilt their shattered lives and nation. Japan remains a trusted friend to this day. Compliance to that historic capitulation has granted this mystic culture a level of freedom, prosperity, and parity lasting more than half a century.
It’s time to apply the salve. True spiritual surrender is both voluntary and willful; i.e. because you choose to, not because you have to or were forced to. In our walk with the Lord, surrender to His will must be full and complete. This is key: it must be without residual resentment, or latent resistance. It must be with lingering commitment! The way you know when you are fully and finally surrendered, is when the Lord removes the restraints, and you are free to pursue your own agenda, yet you choose to abide in the vine. (c.f. Jn 10:17-18, Phil 2:5-11) That is a marvelous new level of spiritual depth, maturity, and...release. Ponder this somewhat obscure verse from Romans 14, “The faith which you have, have as your own conviction before God....”
In closing, how ‘bout joining me in singing the classic Christian Chorus, “I Surrender All”. Sing it like you mean it...even if you didn’t have to.