Surrendered to Christ: Living Today for the Words "Well Done"

There is one word that I believe has quietly disappeared from much of modern Christianity, yet it is at the very heart of what it means to follow Jesus.

That word is surrender.

Many people want Jesus as Savior, but Jesus also calls us to receive Him as Lord. When we place our faith in Christ, we are not merely asking Him to rescue us from hell. We are surrendering our lives to the One who gave His life for us. We no longer belong to ourselves—we belong to Him.

Jesus summarized the Christian life with two great commandments:

"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind... And... you shall love your neighbor as yourself." (Matthew 22:37-39)

Everything Jesus asks of us flows from these two commands.

"Take Up Your Cross and Follow Me"

Jesus made an astonishing statement:

"If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me." (Matthew 16:24)

The cross was not a symbol of comfort. It was a symbol of death.

Jesus was saying that following Him requires dying to our own plans, our own selfish ambitions, our own desires, and submitting ourselves to God's will.

To take up our cross means:

• Surrendering our will to God's will.
• Choosing obedience over convenience.
• Loving Christ more than comfort.
• Living each day for His glory rather than our own.

The Christian life is not merely believing certain facts about Jesus. It is following Him.

Why Do Christians Still Suffer?

Jesus suffered once for our sins so that we could be forgiven forever. Nothing can ever add to His finished work on the cross.

Yet believers still experience suffering—not to pay for sin, but because we belong to Christ.

Jesus warned His followers that the world would oppose them just as it opposed Him.

Sometimes our suffering comes through persecution.

Sometimes through temptation.

Sometimes through sacrifice.

Sometimes through simply choosing obedience when it costs us something.

Our suffering does not earn salvation. Rather, it identifies us with our Savior.

Denying Ourselves

The world constantly tells us:

"Do what makes you happy."

Jesus says:

"Deny yourself."

This is one of the greatest differences between worldly living and biblical discipleship.

Jesus denied Himself continually.

He humbled Himself.

He served others.

He placed the Father's will above His own comfort.

As His followers, we are called to do the same.

What Really Profits a Man?

Jesus then asks one of the most penetrating questions in Scripture:

"For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?" (Matthew 16:26)

People spend their entire lives pursuing wealth, success, recognition, possessions, and pleasure.

Yet none of these things can be taken into eternity.

Immediately after asking this question, Jesus speaks of His return:

"For the Son of Man will come... and then He will reward each according to his works." (Matthew 16:27)

Notice the order.

Salvation comes by grace through faith.

Rewards come because of faithful service.

These are two completely different truths that should never be confused.

Saved by Grace—Created for Good Works

The Bible is perfectly clear:

We are saved by grace through faith—not by works.

No amount of good deeds can earn eternal life.

But after salvation, God expects His children to live differently.

Love people.

Forgive others.

Serve faithfully.

Share the Gospel.

Care for those in need.

Not to earn salvation—but because Christ first loved us.

Invest Where It Lasts Forever

Jesus told us:

"Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven."

Everything on earth eventually disappears.

Money.

Homes.

Cars.

Careers.

Popularity.

Even our physical bodies.

Only what is done for Christ lasts forever.

Every act of obedience...

Every sacrifice...

Every soul influenced for Christ...

Every unseen act of faithfulness...

God remembers all of it.

Endure Faithfully

Paul wrote:

"Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect..." (2 Timothy 2:10)

The Christian life is not always easy.

There will be disappointments.

Trials.

Temptations.

Weariness.

Yet we keep going because eternity is worth it.

Be an Approved Worker

Paul continues:

"Be diligent to present yourself approved to God..." (2 Timothy 2:15)

Our goal is not merely to impress people.

Our goal is to stand approved before Christ.

That requires studying His Word.

Living by it.

Teaching it accurately.

Walking in obedience.

The Lord Knows Those Who Are His

Paul also reminds us:

"The Lord knows those who are His."

God is never confused about who truly belongs to Him.

True believers are also called to "depart from iniquity" (2 Timothy 2:19).

Faith is never an excuse to continue living comfortably in sin.

Real faith produces growing holiness.

A Profession Without Possession

Titus gives one of the strongest warnings in Scripture:

"They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him." (Titus 1:16)

It is possible to speak Christian words while living an un-Christlike life.

God is not impressed by religious language.

He looks at transformed hearts.

The Judgment Seat of Christ

Every believer will one day stand before the Bema Seat of Christ.

This is not a judgment to determine salvation.

That question was settled at the Cross.

The Bema Seat evaluates the lives of believers.

Paul tells us that every work will be tested by fire.

Some works will remain and receive reward.

Other works—done with wrong motives or having no eternal value—will be burned away.

The believer himself is saved, but suffers loss because opportunities were wasted.

Scripture also speaks of crowns awarded to faithful believers. These crowns are not trophies for personal glory, but expressions of Christ's grace, and Revelation shows the redeemed casting their crowns before His throne in worship because He alone is worthy.

There will be a solemn awareness of what could have been done for Christ. Yet God's promise is full of hope: He Himself will wipe away every tear, and sorrow will give way to everlasting joy in His presence.

The Scariest Words Jesus Ever Spoke

Perhaps the most sobering words in Scripture are:

"I never knew you; depart from Me."

These words remind us that outward religion is not enough.

A church membership cannot save.

Good intentions cannot save.

Only a genuine relationship with Jesus Christ saves.

Likewise, Jesus warned about the unprofitable servant who buried what had been entrusted to him instead of faithfully using it. His warning reminds us that God expects His people to be faithful stewards of the opportunities, gifts, and responsibilities He has given them.

The Words Every Believer Should Long to Hear

If there are frightening words in Scripture, there are also glorious ones.

Imagine hearing Jesus say:

"Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things; I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your Lord."

Those words summarize the purpose of the Christian life.

Not fame.

Not comfort.

Not success.

Faithfulness.

One day, everything we have accumulated on earth will be left behind.

Only what has been done for Christ will remain.

May we therefore surrender ourselves completely to Him, take up our cross daily, deny ourselves, love God with all our heart, love our neighbors as ourselves, endure faithfully, depart from sin, and invest our lives in treasures that cannot fade away.

May the deepest desire of our hearts be that, when we stand before our Savior, we will hear the words every believer longs to hear:

"Well done, good and faithful servant."