In 1865 General Robert E. Lee traveled to Appomattox Courthouse in Virginia to meet with Union General U.S. Grant. Early that morning Lee was still holding out hope to escape the Union army, but he quickly found himself boxed in and greatly outnumbered. The time had come to surrender. The war drug on for over four years, splitting the United States into two separate nations. The cost of the war was great, over 620,000 soldiers died during that time. Two days prior Grant sent a letter to Lee stating his desire to avoid the further effusion of blood and placed the invitation for surrender at Lee’s feet. Lee dreaded this day. He said that he would rather die a thousand deaths than surrender, but he knew what was best for his soldiers. His men were tired, they were ragged, and they were deserting the army daily. Lee arrived at the McLean House and Grant followed thirty minutes later. Lee was in his best-dressed uniform, and Grant entered with his dirty uniform. This was a perfect contrast between the two great leaders. The meeting was naturally awkward and after a few minutes of conversation about the Mexican-American War, the conversation turned to surrender. Grant had sent out letters before the meeting writing about some potential conditions for surrender but he feared the worst. He worried that his men would be severely punished, but Grant was extremely graceful. Lee simply wanted them to sign terms of surrender, he would parole prisoners, allow Confederate soldiers to keep their weapons and horses, and give Union rations to the starving Confederate army. It was considered a gentlemen’s agreement with little pomp and circumstance. Upon leaving General Grant told his staff, “The war is over, the rebels are our countrymen again.” It was time for the nation to heal, recover, and be made whole again.
The definition of surrender is to “cease resistance to an enemy or opponent and submit to their authority.” The image of quitting is implied. Most of us don’t like quitting or acknowledging defeat. We have a disdain for it. We don’t like to admit that we aren’t strong enough, talented enough, smart enough, or good enough. We hate raising the white flag. The feeling of shame overwhelms us in those moments. The Bible talks about a type of surrender that is good for us, that’s necessary for us. Surrendering is a battle term and we are in a spiritual battle. We live in a world that is at spiritual war with God, us included. We have fought against Him, we have denied His overtures of grace and forgiveness. The battle is over sin and self. We are fallen creatures that are unable to rescue our sinful souls. We can try to be moral, religious, ethical, and good but none of that will end the war that is encompassing us. We will continue to battle until we surrender, until we give up until we raise the white flag to God. Remember that surrender means to cease fighting and to give up your rights to a conqueror.
We need to come to a moment of repentance. We need to come to a moment when we are broken over our sinfulness. We need to come to a moment when we are finally willing to admit that we are fighting a battle that we cannot win. We need to surrender. We need to admit that we are defeated and undone. We need to come to Christ for the forgiveness of sin. This concept reminds me of John 19:30. Jesus hung on the cross, suspended between heaven and earth, suffering and dying for our sins. Jesus said from the cross, it is finished, and gave up His life. The price had been paid in full, the victory had been bought, we simply have to come and surrender to Jesus by faith. After we submit to Christ, we will find a similar thought that Grant expressed to Lee, the war is over, and we are God’s family now. Friend, have you surrendered to Jesus yet? Have you trusted Him by faith? Is the war over or are you still fighting? Submit to Him today and have Christ live in you.
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