Galatians 6:9 (KJV)
And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
1 Corinthians 15:58 (KJV)
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
In this world wars end when one side is defeated. This requires a surrender by the side that has been conquered. Surrender means that the losing side must come under the authority of the victor. The defeated relinquishes their freedom to rule themselves and must do that which the victor approves of. There have been many cultures that have come to an end because they were conquered by a stronger power. The Bible tells us that we do not struggle against flesh and blood (Ephesians 6:2). This means that we are not warring for the things that earthly wars are fought over such as land, money, power and physical freedom. Our warfare is waged for the souls of men, women and children. The weapons of our warfare are not carnal (2Corinthians 10:4). The nature of our struggle is not the same as the world views warfare.
I want to discuss the issue of surrender. The secular world has always declared victory over Christianity and is constantly demanding that we raise the flag of surrender. Biblical values are mocked by secular educators, scientists, philosophers, liberal political leaders and many others. We are told that our message has been rejected and we need to stay silent. The most persecuted people on earth are Christians. There is a reality that the unbelievers cannot grasp and too often the believers forget. That reality is that there is no war being waged. The resurrection was a complete victory over evil. How can one surrender when they are the victors? God did not leave us here after our salvation to wage war with the unbelieving world. He left us here as ambassadors of a victorious kingdom. This world has been judged and will continue to suffer judgment until the Lord returns and reigns on earth. Our task is to show others the way of deliverance from a defeated world. It is also our duty to teach the world how to live the victorious life. We can exemplify in our lifestyle the design that God created us with. We can show the world what genuine love, forgiveness and redemption is all about.
I find it amusing how the wicked are always telling the righteous to surrender their ideas, principles and convictions. They are always claiming victory because they are in authority and have favor of the people. It has never been different since the fall of mankind. It matters not who is in charge or who has the majority. All that should matter to the believer is to never surrender great truths. We must continue to speak often and loudly the truths that God has given us. The world fails those who put their trust in it. Those who come to the realization that something is desperately wrong with this world will need direction and hope. How will they find the way of deliverance if those who possess it have surrendered their voices to the wicked? We must be there for them when they need us. It has been the refusal of the righteous to surrender that has made America the most exceptional kingdom in history. Those who possessed great truths have not surrendered even though there have been times when they were not favored by the majority. The greatness of American democracy is not that the majority rules but that the minority can be heard. The public square has been a place where great ideas and bad ideas alike have been debated. As long as the people can hear an honest presentation of ideas then they can choose their own direction. Conservatives are told that their ideas are no longer favored by the people and so they should surrender. Great truths concerning the success of a nation are always victorious in the end and should not be surrendered. Our nation and world needs the proclamation of truth now more than ever. Truth can withstand the proclamation of evil but evil cannot stand when challenged by truth. With or without the approval of the masses we must never surrender our voices. We are the victors who need to keep the lifeline thrown out to the perishing.
