The prayer line “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven” is not merely a string of hopeful words, but a noble call to duty. The first human, Adam, failed to fulfill this call because he chose his personal will over God’s sovereignty. But the Lord Jesus came as the last Adam to provide the perfect example. Through radical obedience, Jesus ensured the Father’s will was fully accomplished on earth, even if the price to pay was death on a cross. Jesus has conquered ego and self-will, and as His followers we are called to have the same quality of obedience—obedient to the end, even if it requires shedding blood to preserve the integrity of our faith.
Therefore, being a Christian must not be treated as a “part-time life” or merely an added identity on Sundays. Our life in this world truly has one primary purpose: to do God’s will. Everything else beyond that—work, hobbies, or personal ambitions—is secondary. If we dare to make God’s will our central priority, then God’s promise in Matthew 6:33 becomes real: all our other needs will be added to us. However, to reach this level of priority, each of us must be willing to enter our personal “Garden of Gethsemane.”
Gethsemane literally means “a place of crushing.” For us as children of God, this world is that place of crushing. While living on earth, we will undergo various forms of crushing—of our egos, desires, and personal ambitions. But we need not regret or become bitter when we experience these painful processes. For the years of our lives on earth are actually preparation and qualification for entering the glory of heaven. Without the crushing of self-will, we will never be able to submit fully to God’s sovereignty.
The process of leaving oneself, or self-denial, is indeed very painful. It involves surrendering sovereignty completely. If a nation surrenders to a conquering nation, the king of that nation must give up all his sovereign rights to the conquering king. He must submit, pay tribute, and allow all his rights to be controlled by the new ruler. So, it is with our relationship with God. Many people say, “I surrender,” only when problems, illness, or poverty press them. But true surrender is when we have the chance to take revenge, yet choose to forgive; when we could commit corruption unseen, yet choose to be honest. That is evidence that we have fully surrendered to the Father’s sovereignty.
Ultimately, when we have reached true surrender, no situation in this world will shake us anymore. Why? Because spiritually we are already “in heaven”—a condition in which God’s sovereignty reigns fully over our souls. Christians who understand this truth will continue to experience the peace that surpasses all understanding from the Holy Spirit, even amid the noise and difficulties of the world. Let us practice being willing to be wholly possessed by the Lord. Let go of control of your life and let the Father take the helm, for only in total submission do we find true freedom as children of God.