Glad Surrender

God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. —Genesis 1:3

In the first recorded act in time and space in Genesis 1, God exercised control over His universe. He spoke with authority and power, bringing light, life, and order to the darkness and chaos of the universe.

When He said, “Let there be light,” there was light. When He said, “Let the . . . fruit trees” bear fruit, the trees bore fruit (v. 11). All creation, including—initially—the first man and woman, lived in glad, wholehearted surrender to the sovereign control and will of the Creator.

This surrender didn’t strip the creation of dignity or freedom; to the contrary, surrender was—and still is—the source and means of true freedom and fullness. The sovereign Creator ruled
over His creation with tender love, inviting His creatures to engage with Him in a divine dance-of-sorts, in which He led and they followed. They responded to His initiative with trust, love, and surrender. In turn, their needs were abundantly met, they fulfilled their created purpose, and they existed in harmony with God and with each other.