Modern Disciple Magazine for Men (MDM4M), published in Canada
JUNE / JULY 2004
Cover |
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One-On-One with Jeff Frankenstein |
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Socially Acceptable Sin
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The Music of Duvall
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More Than Accountability
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God in the Wild
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The Pond or the Power
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Surrender
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LifeLine
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Viva III
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by Alan Penner
My favorite movies are filled with battles. I watched in
fascination as Sauron's forces were defeated in the last battle
in "Return of the King". I bowed my head and covered my eyes when
William Wallace and his men were defeated in a battle against their
English tyrants, betrayed by their own countrymen. My heart soared
when Captain Nathan Algren's samurai forces wreaked havoc on the
Imperial Army of Japan before falling to an onslaught from their
heavy artillery.
The lines between good and evil, right and wrong were all clearly
drawn in these battles. No leeway was left for the audience to
choose which side was fighting for justice. In all three movies
underdog armies were fighting for freedom, for the right to live
life fully. There was no thought of surrender; it was unthinkable
to live life under the heavy hand of a power that cared only for
itself. And so the men and women in these armies fought with the
conviction that defeat by death was better then life after
surrender. My heart agrees with them fully; everything within me
cries out for life. At times I get disgruntled over the "little"
frustrations that steal away at life. But if the very essence of
life was being stolen away from me I hope I would listen to my
heart and fight until I won or died. Who in their right mind would
surrender to something or someone who wished to steal their life
away?
One of the great struggles in my walk with Jesus is around the
issue of surrender. He asks everything of me. My desire to live
comfortably, to have a job I enjoy, to pursue my passions for fly
fishing and sports, to be liked by the people in my life, to use
my free time as I choose… He tells me that if I want to follow him
I need to give him complete control of all these desires,
everything that is important to me. I am reminded of the story of
the rich young man in Mark chapter 10. Here was a man who cared
about spiritual things and when the opportunity arose he asked
Jesus what he should do to receive eternal life. Jesus engaged the
young man in conversation allowing him to speak of all the things
he had done in his pursuit of godliness. And then Jesus struck
hard, two hands on a broad sword, cleaving bone, flesh, spirit and
soul piercing through all that stood in the way of truth. He laid
open the heart of the young man and asked for everything. "Go and
sell all you have and give the money to the poor, and you will have
treasure in heaven. Then come follow me." What a price to pay!
Jesus was asking for surrender of all that was life to this man. It
was a price to great to pay at this point in his life and he walked
away.
Late singer and song writer Rich Mullins could relate well to the
rich young man, he to found surrender difficult. In one of his
songs, "Hold Me Jesus", he sang about his struggle to give his life
over to Jesus. "Surrender don't come natural to me. I'd rather
fight You for something I don't really want then to take what You
give that I need…" These words express well my own struggles with
surrender. Giving up control over things that seem like life to me
is excruciating. I love fly-fishing; I must confess that I could
easily make it the focus of my life. Even when I am not out on the
rivers and lakes near my home it is always on my mind. And Jesus
has been asking me to give it to him, to surrender my right to
pursue this "sport" that gives life to me. I battle inwardly,
intensely on a daily basis over control of this area of my life. I
want to live life fully, to really be alive and Jesus wants all of
me.
Continued on Page 2.
