Many people fantasize about God. They conceptualize and construct God in their minds. The saddest thing is that today, many theologians define God and then feel as though they have truly encountered Him. They diligently read theological views, analyze Christian thought throughout history, and present them in a beautifully organized manner. In the end, God is treated like a machine to be played with. Yet God must be encountered, not merely studied.
This does not mean that doing theology is wrong. But we must be realistic in facing life’s realities. Those who struggle in the marketplace certainly understand the harshness of life: starting a small business, laboring hard to make a living. If pastors only go back and forth through books without real struggles, often it becomes a fantasy far from reality. Tragically, such spiritual damage can become so severe that one is no longer aware of one’s own error. The most terrifying thing is the lack of awareness that one day each of us will stand before God and give an account of our lives. If we live with the awareness that God is present—the living God, whose feelings we must honor—then we will be more careful in speaking, thinking, and acting.
Many people are actually not yet ready to become whole human beings. Their life philosophy is simple: “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.” They only want to preserve their earthly life. If that was the model of Israel in the Old Testament, whose orientation was material blessing, it could still be understood. But we are living in the end times. Believers are called to project their lives toward the Kingdom of Heaven. Even marriage can become secondary—some choose not to marry for the sake of the Kingdom of God. Paul is the example, but this can only be understood by those who grasp grace.
The problem is, many people come to God with the wrong motivation: so that life will be comfortable on earth. When they have issues, they surrender them to be helped by God. Indeed, they do not go to shamans, but their motivation is the same: self-interest. Others surrender out of resignation—whether they live or die, it doesn’t matter—usually at the point of despair. There is a good side to entrusting things to God’s will. But in reality, they are not yet willing if the outcome turns out badly.
Some surrender their lives for ministry, which is usually where God’s servants are. Yet often personal agendas slip in. In fact, every Christian is a servant of God. Once we were slaves to sin; now we are slaves to God. Do not think that pastors are God’s servants while the congregation is servants of Satan. Or that pastors are spiritual while the congregation is worldly. No. All of us are servants of God, only with different callings. Indeed, being a pastor is a special calling, but that does not mean only pastors are God’s servants.
However, there is one form of surrender that is the truest: mature surrender. We must choose—to surrender to the world or to God. We cannot do both. For Jesus said: “You cannot serve two masters” (Matt. 6:24). If we surrender to the world, it feels pleasant, because we can do whatever pleases the flesh. Our desires are satisfied. But if we surrender to God, it becomes difficult—for he binds us. Yet in truth, that is the bondage that sets us free.
Before we stand before God’s judgment, let us prepare ourselves. We must truly be bound to Him. Surrender means we no longer have personal interests. In prayer, we no longer dictate to God. For example, when someone we love is sick, we naturally want to pray for their healing. But now we must learn not to let our desires interfere with God’s wisdom. We must be willing to say: “As God wills.”
If we surrender with mature surrender, then whatever we experience—whether good or bad—we will not consider it a misfortune, but rather God’s wisdom.
Mature surrender is indeed difficult. But God knows the sicknesses of our character, so He allows various events to occur to mature us. In true surrender, we no longer have self-interest. And we will never regret having such a surrender. Often, the world around us will not understand. We will be considered strange. But this is the life Jesus taught. Let us choose this path, just as Jesus Himself surrendered His life to the Father.