Present surrender here in view of future joy, and entrance now upon that which is unseen and abiding, is a cardinal feature of true Christianity. Love is the spring of it all. The Lord Jesus Christ is the most striking example of it. Though in the form of God, He emptied Himself and took upon Him the form of a bondsman, and was made in the likeness of men; and being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross (Phil. 2:6-86Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. (Philippians 2:6‑8)). He sacrificed all that He might glorify God. He came down from the heavenly glory, refused earthly glory, endured the cross, and despised the shame, until that which was His heart's delight was accomplished-the will of God.
Throughout His wondrous pathway, the soul of this blessed Man was in communion with His Father. And He had meat to eat which even His disciples knew not of (John 4:3232But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of. (John 4:32)). He was ever walking in the light of God, ever governed by that invisible and abiding scene which surrounded Him, filled with God's glory. He walked here as the dependent Man, completely under the control of the Word, refusing all the glory of men, with which Satan sought to turn Him from His blessed path. He was the perfect witness of self-surrender, the fruit of perfect love, and has set us an example that we should follow His steps.
Now both before and since the advent of Christ in this world, we have examples furnished us in the Scripture, by the Spirit, of men who were the subjects of the call of God, and who, wholly or partially, according to the measure of their faith, surrendered things here in answer thereto. One striking instance is that of Abraham. The Lord told him to get out of his country, and from his kindred, and from his father's house unto a land that He would show him (Gen. 12:11Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will show thee: (Genesis 12:1)). And in Hebrews 11 we learn that by faith he went out, not knowing whither he went. Though in the detail in Genesis we find there was a measure of failure as to his journeying and sojourning first with Terah, his father, and in allowing one of his kindred, Lot, also to accompany him. Eventually, however, clear of those hindrances, we find him sojourning with his family in the land of promise, as in a strange country. And with his tent and his altar, he was manifestly a pilgrim on earth, and a worshiper of the true God. His faith was tested and stood the test in the offering of his son on Mount Moriah at the command of God. And God delighted to call Abraham His friend (Jas. 2:2323And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. (James 2:23)). The secret of Abraham's power in answering to God's call, and surrendering here, was because he believed the promises of God, and was governed by that which was unseen and abiding. He desired a better country, a heavenly, and looked for a city which had foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
The Christian likewise is called out of this world to enter now, in the power of the Holy Ghost who dwells in us, upon that which is unseen, abiding, and eternal, the scene which is filled with the glory of the Son of God. Soon we shall dwell there, and enjoy without hindrance His blessed presence forever; but faith, by the Spirit's power, makes it a present reality for the soul. It is the substantiating of things hoped. for, the conviction of things not seen (Heb. 11:11Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1); J.N.D. Trans.). And though to be without natural affection is a sign of the last days (2 Tim. 3:33Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, (2 Timothy 3:3)), and not to honor parents is contrary both to the law and to the gospel; yet, the Lord has said, He that loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me (Matt. 10:3737He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. (Matthew 10:37)). Hence, the nearest and dearest earthly ties should not be allowed to hinder our wholehearted response to God's call.
Another bright example of surrender is found in Moses. When come to years in the palace of the Pharaohs, and his prospects were of the brightest, and in a certain combination of events he might, perhaps, even have inherited the Egyptian throne, by faith he forsook the position in which, in the providence of God, he found himself. He refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt, for he had respect to the recompense of the reward. By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king, for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible. (Heb. 11:24-2724By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; 25Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; 26Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward. 27By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible. (Hebrews 11:24‑27).) Had he reasoned according to the natural thoughts of man, or allowed himself to be governed by the circumstances which surrounded him, he would have clung to his position, reasoning as to what a help he could be to his people in it. But no, he entered into the true call of God and, without hesitation, sacrificed all to answer thereto. The reproach of Christ was dearer to that faithful heart than all the world beside. With light from God, he knew what to refuse, what to choose, and what to esteem. He forsook all, and endured, as seeing Him who is invisible. His reward was both present and eternal. Shall such a history, fraught with such momentous consequences, be written for us in vain? May the Lord give each believer who reads these lines to take it to heart, that we may identify ourselves wholly and uncompromisingly with the interests of Christ and His people at all costs in this the day of His rejection.
One meets with other instances where the surrender was only partial. The case of Jonathan is one. We read that his soul was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as he loved his own soul. And, moreover, he made a covenant with him, and stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave it to David, and his garments, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle. Yet notwithstanding this surrender of love for the anointed one of God, of that which he would most highly value as the warrior son and heir of King Saul, when put to the test as to whether he would identify himself with the rejected David, or continue a path of ease in connection with his self-willed father, he chose the latter. David abode in the wood. But Jonathan went to his house (1 Sam. 23:1818And they two made a covenant before the Lord: and David abode in the wood, and Jonathan went to his house. (1 Samuel 23:18)), and eventually, when David came to the throne, Jonathan had already fallen with Saul on Mount Gilboa. This solemn history teems with instruction for our souls, showing how far we may go as Christians in surrendering things we esteem and value for Christ's sake, and yet lack the full surrender of love which leads us now to wholehearted identification with Christ in the day of His rejection.
A solemn example of the lack of surrender is found in the young ruler of Mark 10:1717And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? (Mark 10:17). Running and kneeling in the Lord's presence, he said, "Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?" The Lord, knowing his heart was set on wealth, and that he desired long life to enjoy it, tested him with the commandments which referred to his neighbor. He professed to have kept them; but the tenth commandment, "Thou shalt not covet," exposed him. His departure, sad and grieved, showed that he loved treasure here more than Christ. The Lord loved him (v. 21) but he lacked that love in return which leads to surrender in this world in view of the one to come. He might have had great possessions in and with Christ forever, but the "great possessions" of this transitory scene filled his heart. He missed his opportunity, and it is the last we hear of him.
It is blessed to turn in contrast to the case of Paul. In his early days of proud Pharisaism, Saul of Tarsus, filled with religious enmity against Christ, sought to blot out the name of Jesus of Nazareth from the earth. But, met in grace from the glory by Him whom he persecuted, when in the full tide of his mad career, light broke in upon his dark soul, and he was blessedly converted to a glorified Savior. Straightway, at Damascus, instead of persecuting His followers, he preached Him as the Son of God. His heart had been captured on the road. And now, enraptured with that blessed Man at the right hand of God in glory, his whole life henceforth, without reserve, as Paul the Apostle of the Gentiles, became devoted to His interests on earth. So completely was he captivated with Christ, that everything here became completely eclipsed in his eyes, and he could write to the Philippians some thirty years after his conversion, "What things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord," etc. Phil. 3:7, 87But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. 8Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, (Philippians 3:7‑8). Paul's was a wonderful surrender. Constrained by the love of Christ, his heart responded; drawn and controlled by love, in the Spirit's power, he pursued a straight course from start to finish. With him it was no boast, but the simple expression of that which was true when he said, "To me to live is Christ." Phil. 1:2121For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. (Philippians 1:21). So closely did Paul follow Christ, that he could write to the beloved s a in t s at Philippi, "Brethren, be followers together of me." Phil. 3:1717Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample. (Philippians 3:17).
May God in His great grace so work in power in our souls that, constrained by the love of Christ, we may, each one without reserve, surrender our will, our all, ourselves to
Christ, and so answer in heart and life to the call of God. Thus only shall we bring glory to His all-worthy name, who surrendered all that He might suffer for us that we might be redeemed to God forever by His precious blood. May the surrender of love characterize us, as His disciples, till He come.