July 14

"Thou settest a crown of pure gold on his head."—Psalms 21:3.

THERE are three diadems which my Lord will give to me, if I fight the good fight and keep the faith.

There is the crown of righteousness. At last, I shall not only be perfectly justified but perfectly just. At last, I shall be delivered not simply from sin's punishment and from sin's power, but from sin's presence. At home with a righteous God, my righteousness will be without spot or blemish or any such thing. I shall see the beauty of my King, and I shall share it too.

There is the crown of glory. All honour and majesty and might and dominion are to be mine. That old royalty, which I forfeited and which I cannot fully regain on this side the grave, will be completely restored. I shall have a sweeter and stabler Eden than Adam ever knew. I shall sit down with Christ on His kingly seat. I am rich who once was poor. Instead of the rags of the bondman I am clothed in the best robe of the child.

There is the crown of life. Life, without touch of disease or fear of death, for my tempest-tossed and sickness-stricken flesh. Life, without tarnish of evil, without possibility of failure, without shadow of sorrow, for my struggling and falling and yearning soul. Life, which is length of days for ever and ever. "Too much worn are body and brain; I need everlastingness."

On His head were many crowns: it is written in the visions of the Revelation about my Master and King. But the far-reaching and glorious word holds true of the servant as well as of the Lord. It is a prophecy of what awaits me in the end of the days.