Earthly Crowns Are Like Tennis-Balls
A believer's crown of glory shall be fresh, flourishing, and continuing, while earthly crowns are fleeting and unfulfilling.
Thomas Brooks emphasizes the eternal nature of the believer's crown of glory, contrasting it with earthly crowns that are temporary and fleeting, much like tennis balls that are passed around until they wear out. He highlights that while earthly achievements may bring momentary satisfaction, they ultimately fade, whereas the crown of glory bestowed upon believers remains fresh and flourishing for eternity. Brooks reassures that no force, not even the devils in hell, can take away a believer's heavenly inheritance, which is far superior to anything this world offers. The sermon encourages believers to focus on their eternal rewards rather than the transient accolades of this life.
Text
1 Peter 5:4 "You will receive the crown of glory that
will never fade away,"--as the garlands faded, with
which the conquerors at games, races, and combats
were crowned--which were made of herbs, leaves,
and flowers.
A crown imports perpetuity, plenty, dignity.
A crown is the height of human ambition.
A believer's crown, his inheritance, his glory, his
happiness, his blessedness--shall be as fresh and
flourishing after he has been many millions of years
in heaven--as it was at his first entrance into it.
Earthly crowns are like tennis-balls, which are
bandied up and down from one to another, and
in time wear out. When time shall be no more,
when earthly crowns and kingdoms shall be no
more, yes, when the world shall be no more--a
Christian's crown of glory shall be fresh, flourishing,
and continuing.
All the devils in hell shall never wrangle a believer
out of his heavenly inheritance, nor deprive him of
his crown of glory. The least thing in heaven, is
better than the greatest things in this world. All
things on earth are fading--but the crown of glory
never fades away.
Sermon Outline
- Earthly Crowns vs. Heavenly Crowns
- The Futility of Earthly Crowns
- The Permanence of Heavenly Crowns
- Characteristics of Earthly Crowns
- Characteristics of Heavenly Crowns
- Earthly Crowns are Fleeting
- Earthly Crowns are Unfulfilling
- Heavenly Crowns are Eternal
- Heavenly Crowns are Unshakeable
Key Quotes
“Earthly crowns are like tennis-balls, which are bandied up and down from one to another, and in time wear out.” — Thomas Brooks
“All the devils in hell shall never wrangle a believer out of his heavenly inheritance, nor deprive him of his crown of glory.” — Thomas Brooks
“The least thing in heaven, is better than the greatest things in this world.” — Thomas Brooks
Application Points
- Prioritize your faith and focus on eternal things rather than fleeting worldly ambitions.
- Recognize that the least thing in heaven is better than the greatest things in this world.
- Trust that your heavenly inheritance is secure and unshakeable.