People spell the word success wrong usually. They should spell it S-U-B-M-I-T. Submit? Submit to who or to what? Why would submitting make you successful in life?
Real success comes when we submit to our Creator. This is not our Mother and Father. Nor is it a teacher we admire greatly. Submission to any human being or any thing will not bring us success.
Our Creator, the God who made us and keeps us alive day by day, has wonderful plans for the human race.
These plans are related to our development--physically, mentally, and spiritually. He gave us the power of choice in the beginning. He tested our loyalty in the beginning. He still gives us the power of choice. He is still testing us. We, too often, fail our tests.
Yet, our Creator and Redeemer has not given up on us. Though the majority make the wrong choices, we need not do so. It's up to us to respond to the counsel and pleas of the God who loves us. Yes, He loves us. So much so He came to this suffering world to live and die for the beings He created. It is like one of us becoming an ant to save the ants. We are NOTHING compared to the whole Universe. God didn't have to bother with us, but we are EVERYTHING to Him. The Godhead (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) were so interested in our welfare, They devised a plan to save us from ourselves.
Yes, our SELVES. This is our problem--self. Our Creator never made us to find success or happiness in serving our own selfish interests. He created us to be OTHER-CENTERED. Most of us are just the opposite--self-centered.
Oh, some of us can be quite charitable to others. When we are thus for the right motives, it is only because our Creator is working in our hearts. But kindness and good deeds can be done for selfish motives. It can vary with each individual, and we may not be aware of our true motives.
What has this to do with SUCCESS? A great deal. Success in this world can be very self-serving. But the kind of success God wishes for us has different motives. Although some of the results can be the same, the wrong motives will not mean lasting happiness or real satisfaction.
If we are submitted to our Creator and Redeemer success can still bring prosperity at times. Yet, it can mean waiting for prosperity until our Saviour returns and takes us to our heavenly home and the new earth He promises us. We have many lessons to learn here on this present earth. We are still in Pre-school or Kindergarten. We are still learning a few basic fundamentals about true success here. When we learn these we will be ready for the HIGHER SCHOOL.
This means we will then have an eternity to learn wonderful things, fulfill wonderful dreams or plans.
Our brain power and physical strength will be perfect then. So we can be much more successful at anything we attempt than we ever could be here. This would be in a place where we have perfect freedom to develop our abilities without the self-centered mind-set we often have in the present world.
Yet, only those who are willing to search the written word of God carefully and prayerfully will find God's plan for real success. Success is spelled submission, because this is what must come first. To make such a submission you will need to become thoroughly acquainted with your Creator and Redeemer.
As Paul, the Apostle, said, "I know in whom I believe." You must truly KNOW Him to truly love Him. Then submitting to Him will be easy, as you will both appreciate and trust Him. Thus, true success will be yours and a secure eternal future of continuing success will make you blessed beyond your imagination.
Copyright 2011, Kathryn D. Search
