Unconditional Surrender
“The Lord said to the man clothed in linen, “Go in among the wheels beneath the cherubim. Fill your hands with burning coals from among the cherubim and scatter them over the city.” And as I watched, he went in.”
Today’s Text: Ezekiel 10:1-8 (Living Life Daily Devotional)
Ezekiel’s prophecy continues with a vision of God instructing a man clothed in linen (likely the same one as the previous chapter) to go to the area beneath the cherubim and pick up the burning coals, then scatter them over the city. This is what the man exactly does. The cherubim was standing on the south side of the temple and cloud has filled the inner court.
Cherubims are best characterized as angelic beings specifically praising God in worship. The glory of God rose from above the angelic being and moved to the threshold of the temple. All the temple court was filled with the radiance of God’s glory. Ezekiel heard the sound of the wings, which could be heard even in the outer courts. This was the coming fiery destruction of Jerusalem which would begin from the throne of God. Only God can judge a nation for their idolatry and sin.
The glory of God began to depart from the temple and the man in clothed linen was taking up burning coals in preparation to scatter them over the city, as judgment for the Israelites’ sin and idolatry. God’s patience was no longer present with the people and judgment was now certain after warnings of it was ignored several times.
On July 26 of the year 1945, the Allied leaders issued a formal ultimatum demanding the unconditional surrender of Japan during the Second World War. It warned that failure to surrender would result in a prompt and complete utter destruction like never before seen. The declaration made it clear that this included the pursuit of peace, the dismantling of the Japanese military, punishment for war criminals, and an establishment of a peaceful transition to a democratic government. The declaration made it clear that Japan would not be destroyed nor enslaved if they were to choose surrender.
Unfortunately the Empire of Japan made it clear that no negotiations would be accepted and ignored the declaration. In response to their decision to not surrender, the United States dropped the first atomic bomb on the city of Hiroshima which instantly killed around 80,000 people. Japan was shocked but the Emperor and military leaders wanted to still continue the war. On the 8th, the Soviet Union declared war on Japan and invaded Manchuria and Korea, land where the Japanese military had been occupying. The next day, the United States dropped a second atomic bomb in the city of Nagasaki which killed around 75,000 people. Continuous firebombing had occurred with Allied bombers dropping incendiary explosives throughout various cities including Tokyo.
Japanese leaders at this point were deeply considering surrender but military commanders were divided. It wasn’t until the Emperor intervened, which was incredibly rare for him to do so, that the Empire of Japan accept the Potsdam Declaration with one caveat which is to persevere the seat of the Emperor. It would be the first time the people heard the Emperor’s voice as he announced the Japanese surrender. Japan had to face the consequence of a fiery destruction for rejecting the final call to surrender.
Today’s passage is a sobering reminder that God’s holiness will demand justice but He often gives us every chance to respond before bringing that judgment. Unfortunately His glory cannot remain where He is constantly being ignored after much warning.
Sometimes we may resist surrender because of our own desires, our own pride, and our own habits of sin. We ignore God’s warnings and delay repentance unto the Lord, hoping the consequences won’t come. Yet this passage reminds us that eventually judgment does fall and when God’s glory departs, it is too late to reverse it. Now is the time to surrender for God patiently calls upon us to repent and to be redeemed by His mercy and grace.
May we examine our hearts and see if we are holding on to anything that keeps us from fully surrendering. Delay in responding to God’s call can bring consequences that we may never want to face. Let us be challenged to stop resisting, stop delaying, and surrender fully to the Lord today. Let us lay down our pride, our personal will, and our sinful habits. Let us respond to His mercy and grace with genuine repentance and obedience.
As GCC Canvas, let us be a community that sets a culture of honoring God’s presence continually. Let us not wait until the fire of judgment falls upon our church but let us respond now, boldly and humbly, with hearts fully surrendered unto the Lord.
