Daily Dying, Eternal Reward

Following Christ isn’t easy—it’s costly. As humans, we naturally crave things that pull us away from God, which is why Scripture calls us to die to ourselves daily. Jesus says in Luke 9:23, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.”

Being a true disciple means being willing to lay everything down for Him, even when it hurts. Matthew 7:14 reminds us, “Strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” The narrow road rarely looks attractive, but it’s the only road that leads to eternal life. The broad road looks enticing and feels comfortable… but its end is destruction.

Scripture never promises us that following Christ will be easy. In fact, it strongly promises the opposite. “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” (2 Timothy 3:12). Around the world, believers are losing their lives, their homes, their friends and families for the sake of the gospel. We will suffer. We will face opposition. Romans 8:17 even tells us that if we suffer with Him, we will also be glorified with Him.

The Christian life is not one foot in and one foot out. It’s not occasional or convenient. It is a daily surrender. It is commitment. It is trading temporary comfort for eternal reward. It’s laying aside every weight and the sin that so easily ensnares us, and running the race with endurance, with our eyes fixed on Jesus.

And even though following Him costs us comfort, popularity, relationships, dreams, etc… it will never cost more than what we gain in return. Because unlike unbelievers, we walk through every single hardship with hope, joy, peace, and the confidence that eternity with Jesus is waiting for us.

Despite the pain, despite the cost — He is worth it. If walking through every struggle again meant I’d get to see Him face to face, I would do it in a heartbeat. He is worthy of all praise, honor, and glory. Soon, we will see Him. “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory” (2 Corinthians 4:17).

To whoever is reading this: be encouraged. Keep fighting the good fight (2 Timothy 4:7). Keep pressing toward the mark (Philippians 3:14). We serve a mighty, holy, faithful, all-powerful God — and following Him is always worth it!