Full Surrender: Only Full Surrender Leads to Full Victory

Do we, like Mary, surrender to the Lord’s “marching orders” unequivocally, explicitly, quickly, and sans complaining or arguing? It is God’s desire for us to prove our pedigrees by our courageous spirits – depending upon His power within and not merely in our flesh. Remember, flesh often flees and fails. And, to be sure, the most wonderful place for the believer in Jesus to be is “standing firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured,” as Epaphras prayed for the Church at Colosse. Albeit, certainly, most often, it is not the easiest place to be. It wasn’t for Jesus either. Full surrender is going where He leads and doing what He tells us. It is denial of self and taking up our crosses and following hard after the Master. Yet, it is taking hold of the life that is truly life. The life we were all created for and one without regrets. We are to dare to be holy in spite of men and devils – and we are to be strong because our cause is good, pleasing and perfect. All eternity will prove this true.  

Adam and Eve had it good in the Garden. They had perfect tranquility and calm, wanting for nothing. Indeed, their conscience had nothing to do and they needed nothing. Total bliss – no pain, no disease – only pure delight and untainted, unmixed pleasure. Walking with God in the cool of the day, they enjoyed sweet communion with the Father. No wanting – only perfect ease and rest. God had made him ruler of the world but Adam needed to know by a visible sign that God had sovereign dominion over all. God did not want Adam to forget that he - as we – are all God’s subjects. We will all ultimately answer to Him for our lives. He Who created all things is Who we all are accountable to and God wanted Adam aware – and by implication all of His creation – that we all are ultimately subject to Him for our lives. We are not our own as some may choose to assume. The forbidden tree was placed in the Garden to demonstrate the great danger and consequences of going our own ways. Man was created to do good but also free to do evil – as Adam demonstrated when he took and ate of the forbidden. There will always be consequences because God loves us and does not desire for us to dash ourselves to pieces on the great rocks of sin and depravity. We were created for so much more.

The tree taught Adam the lesson – and us as well - that true and lasting happiness is not found in the enjoyment of the created rather in the Creator Himself. All else will be found wanting. There is ultimate emptiness in all things apart from God.    

When we live for self alone we are really not that pleasant to be around, Amen? We become so stinking selfish, so “me” oriented – grasping and climbing the stairway that goes nowhere fast. Yet, pouring out our lives like a drink offering coming from another’s faith gives meaning and great purpose to our lives. 
           
We are to keep heaven in our eyes and the earth under our feet. And we are not to let the world draw us from God. It is not the world that hurts us – it is our setting our hearts upon it. Our affections will declare Whose we are and Whom we serve. It is God’s desire for us to overcome the world and we are to prize and favor Him above all else. Jesus is always the greater good – more than anything this earth affords.