Well Done, Good and Faithful Servant 

You and I were born to make manifest the glory of God.

Many times folks have asked me, "Peg, what are your goals in life?" Granted, I have many, both short and long term goals, but the bulls eye, the center of the target, the one goal upon which my eye is constantly fixed day and night is this, to one day stand before my Lord and hear these simple words, "Well done, good and faithful servant."  That will be my barometer for success in this life.

Right now, even thinking of that joyful moment brings tears to my eyes.  More than fame and more than fortune, more than any of the laurels that this life can bestow upon me, my burning desire is to simply see the look of pleasure on my Lord’s face when I have finished my course in this world.  

His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant

Matthew 25:23

And, as Paul said:

I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 

Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. 

II Timothy 4:7,8

The following is an excerpt from "An Iron Will" by Orison S. Marden.  It was written over 100 years ago, but it still speaks to the condition of our time.  It is the story of a young man whose sole motivation for entering the Olympic race was to see a look of pleasure on his father’s face. 

A STRUGGLE IN THE RACE OF LIFE.

There had been no great parade about the training of this champion runner. From his work at the plough he quietly betook himself to the task of making Greece victorious before the assembled strangers from every land. He was known to be a good runner, and without fuss or bustle he entered himself as a competitor. 

But it was not his speed alone, out distancing every rival, that made the young Greek stand out from among his fellows that day. When he left his cottage home at Amarusi, his father said to him, "Sotiri, you must only return a victor!" 

The light of a firm resolve shone in the young man's eye. 

When at last the excitement of the assembled multitude told that the critical moment had arrived, that the racers were nearing the goal, the old father looked up through eyes that were a little dim as he realized that truly Sotiri was leading the way. He was "returning a victor." 

How the crowd surged about the young peasant when the race was fairly won! Wild with excitement, they knew not how to shower upon him sufficient praise. Ladies overwhelmed him with flowers and rings; some even gave him their watches, and one American lady bestowed upon him her jewelled smelling-bottle. The princes embraced him, and the king himself saluted him in military fashion. 

But the young Sotirios was seeking for other praise than theirs. Past the ranks of royalty and fair maidenhood, past the outstretched hands of his own countrymen, past the applauding crowd of foreigners, his gaze wandered till it fell upon an old man trembling with eagerness, who resolutely pushed his way through the excited, satisfied throng. Then the young face lighted, and as old Louès advanced to the innermost circle with arms outstretched to embrace his boy, the young victor said, simply: "You see, father, I have obeyed."

What can I add to that?  It encapsulate the race of life to a tee.  Some have put it this way, “What you are is God’s gift to you, but what you make of it is your gift to Him.”  Our heavenly Father has charged us to go forth as a victor.  My response is, “Father, I obey.”

Our Father wants us to be victorious in this life.  We do that by exercising our will in obeying His words.  Many people expend incredible effort to win a prize or a medal in this life.  They do it for a corruptible crown.  But the way in which we live our life here on earth, putting God first, is for an incorruptible crown that will never fade away. 

And every man that striveth for the mastery [of life] is temperate in all things. Now they [athletes] do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.

I Corinthians 9:25

One day when we stand before the judgment seat of Christ, the cries, the adulation, the things of this world, will pale in comparison to the light of his glory and grace.  We will see our Lord face to face and look into his tender eyes, and then have the greatest "Aha!" moment ever.  Finally ALL of life will make sense and cohere.  Finally we will know every detail.  Finally we will know God even as He knows us.  "Aha!"  Finally we, too, will cry the cry of triumph, "My God, my God, for THIS purpose I was on earth!  I was born to live for You and to manifest Your glory!”

There may be prizes I will win along the way on this journey of life, because my Father desires that I prosper and bring glory unto Him.  But I lay those prizes at the feet of Jesus Christ, I cast my "crowns" at the foot of his throne, knowing he is in me, and that without Christ, I can do nothing.  

This life that we now live, is only part of the whole.  Anyone who thinks that only this life is what it’s all about, is more to be pitied.  The fulness of life begins after the Lord returns, when we will be with him in all his glory.

Set your mind on the greatest goal in life, to be well pleasing to the King of kings, and the Lord of love.  It will be your polestar; that which will guide you into right paths all your days here on earth.   Then, on that glorious day when Christ returns, you will hear those wondrous words, “WELL DONE, my good and faithful servant.”  That will repay any work you have done, any effort you have expended, any sacrifice you have made in doing the will of God, one thousand fold.  And your heart will swell with a sense of pure satisfaction when Jesus says to you, “Well done, good and faithful servant.  Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.” 

Love and Blessings,

Peg