Unconditional Surrender
During the Civil War, two strategic battles occurred over Fort Donaldson on the Columbia River and Fort Henry on the Tennessee River. Rivers were major thoroghfares for the transportation of goods in that era so these forts, previously held by the Confederacy, had to be taken by the Union Army. Union forces led by General Grant bombarded the forts from warships for several days. When the Confederate troops could take no more, they hoisted a white flag and sent a message to General Grant asking, "What are your terms?"
Grant replied, "No terms--just unconditional surrender!"
General Grant, in his position, was entitled to this demand. God requires no less from us when we become Christians.
When we come to the Lord with sin-stained lives, nothing is to be withheld from Him. Nothing is worth holding onto. Our carnal flesh and minds may try to convince us otherwise. There may be some secret sins we try to conceal out of shame, or just in case we might want to indulge them in the future--addictions are primary examples. Some things we hold on to out of selfishness or a lack of trist--doubting that even God could fixc these hidden tendencies we possess that disgrace ourselves.
God not only wants all these things--everything that makes up what we really are--but He demands them. Nothing less than complete, unconditional surrender will do. We are to lay everything on His altar and trust Him, then with repentance be cleansed from all unrighteousness by the shed blood of His son Jesus Christ, sacrificed on the cross for all of our sins. Nothing of the past is to be retained. "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things become new." (2 Cor. 5:17) The dried, old, dead husk is broken and split, cast aside and discarded in the ground when the new, green shoot pushes forth, into the springtime to grow and flourish. Its leaves rustle in the cool breeze and turn gently heavenward to bask in the warm, wonderful sun that gives life, surrendering all.
Grant replied, "No terms--just unconditional surrender!"
General Grant, in his position, was entitled to this demand. God requires no less from us when we become Christians.
When we come to the Lord with sin-stained lives, nothing is to be withheld from Him. Nothing is worth holding onto. Our carnal flesh and minds may try to convince us otherwise. There may be some secret sins we try to conceal out of shame, or just in case we might want to indulge them in the future--addictions are primary examples. Some things we hold on to out of selfishness or a lack of trist--doubting that even God could fixc these hidden tendencies we possess that disgrace ourselves.
God not only wants all these things--everything that makes up what we really are--but He demands them. Nothing less than complete, unconditional surrender will do. We are to lay everything on His altar and trust Him, then with repentance be cleansed from all unrighteousness by the shed blood of His son Jesus Christ, sacrificed on the cross for all of our sins. Nothing of the past is to be retained. "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things become new." (2 Cor. 5:17) The dried, old, dead husk is broken and split, cast aside and discarded in the ground when the new, green shoot pushes forth, into the springtime to grow and flourish. Its leaves rustle in the cool breeze and turn gently heavenward to bask in the warm, wonderful sun that gives life, surrendering all.
posted by Purgatory Penman | 8:42 AM
1 Comments:
Excellent post. Randy Harris recently stated a similiar sentiment in a talk about modern day idolatry in the Church.
Tony
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home