These two words

Our society is afraid of two words: submission and surrender. Each word rings differently in every persons ear. And even each gender and each culture reacts to these words in totally different ways. But generally, these two words always get the cold shoulder.

The idea of submitting and surrendering has such "no-can-do" implications to the average person, especially to your typical American.

Women in society are taught that submission is fatal. The feminist movement reminds us daily that women are too strong to let a man hold open the door, that we can be independent, no-strings-attached, loose individuals who "wear the pants". So, we find the idea of submission rather revolting.

In the same way, a man is equally appalled at the word surrender. Why would he surrender? Society tells him that he must fight to win, regardless of the cause. He must be strong, cold, and utterly immune to emotion.

While the term submission may not be entirely revolting to everyone, the idea of surrender is utterly frightening to most, if not all people. In the context of war, surrender means defeat. The soldier who surrenders has lost, failing his country, his leaders, and his people.

It is no wonder that our society is so afraid of those two words. To surrender or submit is to allow oneself to experience  fear, vulnerability, and most of all dependency. To surrender or submit is to admit that we are wrong, have faults and are weak. It is to admit that we have lost.

Only time will tell what truths call us to battle. In this life, only loyalty to leaders or our country could compel such images of self-sacrifice. That is why the soldier is so highly esteemed. For only as we enter into a journey such as war do we find ourselves becoming acquainted with something so much greater than ourselves.

Could it be that surrender and submission in our modern day society

 have such negative implications because we are soldiers for the wrong army?

Regardless of whether we serve the finite army or are members of the heavenly cavalry for God, the same sacrifice is required. Death to self. Self-sacrifice is required. 

The problem is when we only fight in the earthly army, for the true cause is yet unknown to us. And we try to find it on the battlefield. Where we will either win or lose. Ourselves.

But the heavenly battlefield can be best represented on that earthly battlefield if only we have eyes to see that our God is a God of justice. When he asks us to take up our cross, it is only because He has already taken up His.

In both scenarios we die to ourselves. But we only have eternal life in the presence of God when we fight the heavenly battle regardless of whether we win or lose here on earth. We have a guaranteed victory in heaven. He has already won.

But our personal victory starts with two words: submission and surrender. To God.