General Cornwallis was the supreme commander of the British Army during the Revolutionary War fought in America from 1775 to 1783. The Battle came to an end at Yorktown on October 19, 1781 when French and American troops surrounded the British fortifications at Yorktown by land and sea, though fighting continued on high seas until 1783, Yorktown was the official closure of the war. It was recorded that General Cornwallis pled illness on the date of the surrender ceremony, and sent his sword with his second in command, Charles O'Hara to be given to the American and French commanders.
I often thought about what Cornwallis did, and thought of how we often do the same things with the Lord. He demands a full surrender. Often we surrender our time, we surrender our skills, we surrender our families, we surrender all that we have, but at the surrender ceremony, God is given everything except our presence. There are many times when we are willing to do things for God because we're supposed to. There are many times we do things for God because the Bible says we're supposed to do it...but we are no better than King Saul if we do this.
Saul did all that he could to "make God happy." He offered up sacrifices, he made his army fast before a battle! He spared the best of the Amalekites...which, in the eyes of God are the worst part that you could spare. So many times our flesh cries out, I'm giving you the best part of me! But the Bible says, "They that are in the flesh cannot please God." God is not interested in what we can do. He's not interested in what we have. He's not interested in how much time we spend witnessing, reading our Bibles, and praying. All of these things are good! But they are not what God is looking for.
We what God is looking for very clearly in Romans 12:1, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God that ye present your bodies a LIVING SACRIFICE...." That is so important to understanding exactly what God is looking for. Many times we offer ourselves as a sacrifice to God...we sacrifice our time, our things, our families, our money...but this is not the sacrifice God is looking for! We might as well be dead while we live if this is the case. It's interesting what the Bible says in 1 Timothy 5:6, "But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth." Now if you travel back to verse 5, it says, "Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day." This is the type of person that God is looking for. He's looking for a person that trusts in God, and continueth in prayers and supplications to Him night AND day. We like to ask God for help in the dark, don't we? We like to get help from God when times are hard. But have you stopped and asked yourself what God wants? He wants you to be there with him day AND night! If we were created in the image of God, don't you think he likes to know that HE is loved just like you desire to feel loved? Of course he does!
I've seen men do many great things for God! But I wonder how many men God is going to see and look upon them, and know that they gave themselves to Him. My friend, does He have your heart? The Bible says, "Keep thy heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life." And God is looking for a living sacrifice! He's not interested in what you do for him, or how much you give him, or how much time you give him...He's interested in YOU. You know He loves you...but does HE know you love him?
What does your surrender ceremony consist of? Are you sending everything you have to him, but staying home? Or are you going to be there and surrender yourself to Him? I think of the little song that children sing at Christmas time: What can I give him, poor as I am? If I were a shepherd I'd bring Him a lamb! If I were a wise man, I'd do my part! So what can I give Him? GIVE HIM MY HEART! So while your thinking about what your loved ones want for Christmas, which will be here before you know it, ask yourself what HE wants for Christmas! He wants YOUR HEART to be his own. Fan the Flame by giving Him what He has always wanted...YOU!