I’ll get back to writing more once this virus is done doing its number on my family, but I was listening to this song the other night and thought of one particular phrase from it, “What will it be like?” and then another for my readers who’ve struggled so long, “Well done.”
God will say it to you, “Well done.”
Keep pushing, just as Paul said, “the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.”
Personally, I still can’t quite grasp that Christ might say, as he promised in Matthew 25’s parable, “Well done,” because what have I done, really? We often feel that, don’t we?
And even when I do something, I then wonder after, “Was this so I can hear ‘Well done’?”
That’s what pops in my OCD, instinctively self-loathing head sometimes when I think of that phrase in relation to myself, “Well done.”
And there’s so much I haven’t done. That’s what pops in my head too.
But then this is what God wants us to hear: “I did it for you.” Whatever we didn’t do, Christ did do, and God sees us as he saw his son.
Did the thief on the cross do anything? No, and yet he heard, “Well done.” That’s just the mercy of Christ.
It’s much easier for me, though, to look at all those Christians, struggling, yet continuing to believe and serve and often in spite of personal dream and ambition – you’ve instead chosen the path of most resistance because it is the place where the least are found.
Or to those who are depressed, anxious, consumed with an eating disorder, a chronic illness, autism, ADHD, or are even suicidal, and only you know how hard it is to even wake up. Jesus understands and because you’ve chosen to continue and know that he’s still got a reason for you to be here, even if you can’t find one, this song is for you, as well. Jesus’ promise is for you.
Or to those who are too keenly aware of their own failings, and must decide – just as Henri Nouwen wrote of — to make the choice, after each discouraging sin, to be either Judas or Peter. To give up on forgiveness in despair, or to accept Jesus’ tender and complete offer of forgiveness, despite your own skepticism.
Because we often are skeptical of forgiveness – skepticism towards the miraculous makes perfect sense, because the miraculous makes no sense, and it’s probably why there was so much fear when Jesus performed some his miracles. It defied humans’ sense of order, and in the same way we might actually fear a leaf that started talking to us about wonderful things, God’s mercy defies our sense of the order of the world, no matter how grand the message, and why not? It’s the greatest miracle of all.
But thanks be to God that through it all, and because of Christ, he will say, “Well done” and the mystery of that might elude us, but it’s real.
And so I want to say to anyone in the dark tonight, you are much nearer the light than you can ever know, and much sooner than we can grasp, we will be in the light fully, in the place that needs no sun because the Son provides the luminescence, and you will get there.
Keep going. Thank you for what you are doing for Jesus. The cups of cold water. Jesus drinks them. The tears you cry, Jesus cries too and will remember them. The hungry you feed. Jesus eats and, just as after his temptation, is comforted. The flock you serve as a leader. Jesus was a shepherd and knows how the sheep are prone to wander and forget the care they’re offered by the shepherd.
And even in our failures, what did he say, in the most symbolic ritual he established: “Take, eat. This is my body, it was broken for you.” To accept that – it’s the end of the judgment of our sin, and our new life begins today – a life that will be one day be raised to the words, “Well done.”
He knows our frame, and he will tell you – the masterpiece in that frame – well done.
“Well Done” by The Afters.
What will it be like when my pain is gone
And all the worries of this world just fade away?
What will it be like when You call my name
And that moment when I see You face to face?
I’m waiting my whole life to hear You say
Well done, well done
My good and faithful one
Welcome to the place where you belong
Well done, well done
My beloved child
You have run the race and now you’re home
Welcome to the place where you belong
What will it be like when tears are washed away
And every broken thing will finally be made whole?
What will it be like when I come into Your glory
Standing in the presence of a love so beautiful?
I’m waiting my whole life for that day
I will live my life to hear You say
Well done, well done
My good and faithful one
Welcome to the place where you belong
Well done, well done
My beloved child
You have run the race and now you’re home
Welcome to the place where you belong
What will it be like when I hear that sound?
All of heaven’s angels crying out
Singing holy, holy, holy are You, Lord
Singing holy, holy, holy are You, Lord
Singing holy, holy, holy are You, Lord
Waiting my whole life for that day
Until then, I’ll live to hear You say
Well done, well done
My good and faithful one
Welcome to the place where you belong
Well done, well done
My beloved child
You have run the race and now you’re home
Welcome to the place where you belong
Well done. (lyrics via Google and Musixmatch)
If you’re depressed, or struggle with any aspect of mental health…
For readers from the United States….
Find a psychiatrist here.
Find a therapist here.
For readers, internationally, seek help from a local resource.
For salvation, Christ and Christ alone.
