CROWNS

CROWNS

Crowns have been given and worn for thousands of years. I was told as a young child that when I reach heaven, and if I have lived a good life, Jesus Christ would give me a Golden Crown with stars to match my good works. I believed this teaching until I begin to study the scriptures for myself. I encourage all to read and study the scriptures for themselves and in much prayer. In history crowns were given and worn showing royalty, such as a king wears. Also crowns were given to represent honor and power. Some crowns were worn at marriages, feasts and public festivals, also a symbol of victory and reward. The crown worn by the victors in the Olympic games was made of leaves of the wild olive; in the Pythian games, in the Nemean games, of parsley, and in the Isthmian games, of the pine. Those that saved the life of a citizen were given a civic crown. This crown was made of oak leaves.

I wish to tell you of greater crowns than those made by the hands of men. Crowns given and worn by men were corruptible and faded away. Crowns made of leaves faded away in a very short time.

James 1:9-12, “Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted: But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away. For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways. Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.” Was it a gold crown that James says is given to the man that endureth temptation? No! The crown is not of man but something that God promised to them that love him. It is the crown of life. James spoke of the brother of low degree being exalted. One that has been brought low by the Holy Spirit, seeing himself as a dirty sinner, one with no righteousness of his own, and is exalted by the imputed righteousness of our Lord, Oh, how blessed a person!

James tells us in the next verses that a man is not tempted of God with evil for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempted he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. What is the opposite of death? It is life. The crown of life is the blessings of the fullness of life. Jesus said inJohn 10:10, “I am come that they might have life and have it more abundantly.”

There are many people that are alive yet dead to the joys of the kingdom of heaven. Paul said inRomans 14:7, “For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.” My friends, which is the best to choose? To be enticed by lust which when it hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death, or the fullness of the imputed righteousness of Christ ruling in your soul which brings forth peace and joy in the Holy Ghost? I want this crown of life. John teaches us inRevelation 1:4-6, “John to the seven churches which are in Asia: grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne; And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.” Notice John said, “And hath made us kings and priests unto God”Dear friends if we have been made kings and priests, we wear a crown. It denotes Royalty, and power. Peter said in1 Peter 2:9, “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood,”

John writes inRevelation 2:10that the crown of life “fadeth not away.” This is something that we enjoy and rejoice in as we travel toward our heavenly home and will finally receive the eternal fullness of life. The crown of life fadeth not away! It is incorruptible.

1 Peter 5:2, “Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.” God has never and never will have to do something over because of imperfection, for He is perfection. This verse is not teaching that because of our works as Elders in the church we shall receive a crown of glory, but is teaching us to be ensamples to the flock and God recognizes our good works. He is not forgetful of our good works. Paul said that he was a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed. When our chief Shepherd shall appear we shall also be a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed. This is to be crowned with glory. On that day we shall be made incorruptible, fit to live in our heavenly home, which is all glorious. What a day that will be!