The Committed Christian's Crown

Common Sense Commentary:  "The four and twenty elders (representing Old and New Testament saints) fall down before Him that sat upon the throne, and worship Him that liveth forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power...." Rev.4:10-11.   Where did they get those crowns ?

I....  OUR INCORRUPTIBLE CROWN - "Every man that strives for the mastery is temperate in all things.  Now they (worldly champions) do it to obtain a corruptible CROWN; but we (for) an incorruptible CROWN." I Cor 9:25.  All worldly fame, accomplishments and honor shall become dust and ashes... and be forever forgotten (corruptible); but every thought, word or action of Christian commitment and kindness is eternally recorded, rewarded and remembered... (incorruptible). 

II...  OUR CHRISTIAN BROTHERHOOD CROWN -  "Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my JOY and CROWN , stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved." Phil.4:1.  The Apostle Paul, having faithfully witnessed and preached Jesus Christ across two continents and established churches everywhere he went, loved the Christian brotherhood, male and female, with a  Christlike devotion... almost inexpressible.

III..  OUR SOUL WINNERS CROWN -  "For what is our (my) HOPE, or JOY or CROWN of
rejoicing?  Are not (is it not) even YOU in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming?
1 Thess.2:19.  Paul's faith in the eternal promises of our future, in God's Word, to all believers, was reflected in his certain HOPE, Christian JOY, and constant REJOICING in KNOWING  that all those souls he had lead to "Faith in Christ" would live forever "in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming."  That was all that mattered to Brother Paul.


IV..  OUR CROWN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS -  "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 that love His appearing."  Paul had personally experienced and well knew the conflict and struggle every Christian "ENDURES" in a human life, between the spiritual, righteous, born again, inner man and the constant fleshly temptations of the outer man.  Paul never doubted that the only righteousness HE had was the righteousness of  Christ bestowed upon his soul at the moment of his eternal salvation.  Hear the similar testimonies of other believers in the Bible: David = "Hear me ... O Lord of my righteousness..." Psm.4:1. "Judge me O Lord... according to THY righteousness."   Jeremiah = "He shall be called, 'The Lord of OUR righteousness'."  Jer.35:15.   Isaiah = "...My God... hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, He hath covered me with the robe of (His) righteousness..." Isa.61:10.  Also "WE are ALL as an unclean thing, and ALL OUR righteousnesses are as filthy rags." Isa.64:6.    Daniel = "O Lord, righteousness belongeth unto THEE...."  Dan.9;7.  Hosea =  "Seek the Lord, til He comes and rains righteousness upon you."  Hosea 10:12.  Jesus =  "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and HIS righteousness."  Matt.6;33.  Paul = "...Not having my   own righteousness, WHICH IS OF THE LAW, but that which is through the FAITH OF CHRIST, the righteousness which is OF GOD."  Phil.3:9.  Titus= "Not by works of righteousness WHICH WE HAVE DONE...." 

V...  OUR CROWN OF LIFE -  "Blessed is the man that ENDURETH temptation for when he is tried, he shall receive a CROWN of life,which the Lord hath promised to them that love Him."  Jm.1:12.  Two "HUMAN" realities, which are universal, are "temptation" and "tribulation".  Even Jesus was tempted, in His flesh,  by Satan for forty days and nights. (Lk.4).  "Yet without sin". Heb.4:15.  He was tempted and tried in His "human, fleshly" side but His spiritual side did not yield ... "He ENDURED" and was blessed.  Now if Jesus endured  temptation and tribulation, we, in whom He now lives, can also endure if we "Walk in the spirit, and you shall  not fulfill the lusts of the flesh." Gal.5:16. 

VI..  OUR CROWN OF GLORY - "When the chief shepherd  shall appear, you shall receive a 
   CROWN of glory that fadeth not away." IPet.5:4.  We, like sheep, await our Shepherd's return.  Until then, we ENDURE the trials and temptations to quit or run away.  We ENDURE the goats and dogs and domineering rams.  We even sometimes have to ENDURE our Chief Shepherd's hireling shepherd.  But we know our true Shepherd's voice and our rewards, crowns and security  are with Him. 

VII.  A CROWN ... LOST - "Behold, I come quickly:hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy CROWN." Rev.3;11.  If He tarries His return to a time certain, don't give up, don't run away, and don't stray away from your assigned fold.  Be patient, be faithful ....  ENDURE and a crown awaits you .... to place at our Lord's feet.  If the righteousness is His, the Crown is also His. If the righteousness is ours, the crown is ours to keep.  You decide to whom it belongs.

Pass it on. RB