Surrender!

March 31, 2024
 
Reflections from the Heart of Allan Redenius
Surrender!  That verb brings up many thoughts and emotions.
 
Many a soldier has faced that outcome, surrender.  Often times, the choice is one of two, surrender or die.  To many, surrender, is to die.  So with the last ounce of valor within, they fight on to the end.
 
One of the greatest surrender speeches ever given was on December 22, 1944 at the Battle of the Bulge.  Surrounded, outnumbered, and out gunned, the Germans had the American troops in a hopeless quandary.  The German Commander of the Nazi forces sent a note to Brigadier General McAuliffe, commander of the American troops.  The note asked for General McAuliffe to honorably surrender.  To that, General McAuliffe gave the Germans a one-word response, “NUTS!”  That surrender speech, or maybe lack of surrender speech, inspired the American forces on to an eventual costly victory.
 
Most surrenders end in tragedy and sometimes, loss of life.  King Saul, the first King of Israel, was mortally wounded in battle.  Rather than be captured by the Philistines, King Saul fell upon his sword to end his life. (1st Samuel 31)  He would rather give up his life than be taken prisoner, even if for a short time before his death.
 
But surrender doesn’t always need to be an outcome of war.  It could be as mundane as surrendering your life for a cause, an ideology.  Jesus surrendered Himself to the Romans in the Garden of Gethsemane. At any time before the cross, and even on the cross, He could have called upon twelve legions of angels to come to His rescue.  But the Lord chose to give up His life to save yours and mine.
 
I choose not to surrender and conform to the ways of the world.  I choose to surrender my life to Jesus, Who surrendered His life for me.  In my surrender, I stand not in defeat, but in victory.
 
Where do you stand?  I pray with me.
 
Fight on!
Pastor Allan
 
 
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