Crowning Moments

Crowning Moments

Selected Passages

August 22, 2004

Evening Service

Introduction

I absolutely love the Olympics and I was just thrilled to be able to watch part of the games over this last week. There is just something about the Olympics that makes them special. As I thought about all of the amazing Olympic moments that I have been fortunate enough to see, there are some that stand out. I can remember watching the Olympics when I was young and seeing the US men’s hockey team defeat the Russians for the gold medal in 1980. I watched as the first basketball Dream Team won their gold medal. I can remember Mohamed Ali light the torch at the games in Atlanta and the 1980 Gold medal miracle team light the torch in Salt Lake City.

This time the summer Olympics has made their way back to Greece and the Athens games have had a special feel to them. If you have not been able to watch the Olympics this year, there is something added to the medal ceremony, an olive wreath is given to each of the medal winners.

Here is a clip of the final medal ceremony for Michael Phelps, the most decorated athlete in American history. Here is his final medal ceremony.

Show Olympic Clip

What a moment that had to have been for Michael Phelps, knowing that he has done what no other American has ever done. I believe that every Christian will experience an even more amazing moment, when we stand before Christ to gain one of the great crowns of heaven.

Tonight, we are going to take a look at what it means to gain victory in Christ and join in the celebration of heaven. Let’s look at what our crowing moment might be like.

Open your Bibles to 2 Corinthians 5:9-10

9 So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.

In the early Olympic games each athlete had to stand before the judges seat before they were awarded their prize. This was a period of examination to be sure that the victor was not disqualified in any way. In the same way we too will stand before a judge and be examined to determine if we can be disqualified.

The fact is that we all must appear before Christ and be judged and there will be no exceptions. Every believer will take their place and stand before Christ. The judge who we must seek to please is not the members of the church; it is not your family or your neighbors. We have been called to live our live to please Jesus.

Standing before Christ and be judged by should not be a threatening thought but rather we need to understand that we will stand before the one who died for us. We will stand before the one who willingly took our penalty on His shoulders. We will stand before the one who has purchased our eternity with His very life.

What will be judged?

The things done in the body are what Christ will be looking at and there is nothing hidden from Him. He who sees all, knows all and misses nothing can look at every area of your life and every action you have ever done.

The issue comes into three main areas

· Salvation: Jesus will look at your life not as the sin soaked wretch you once were but as the redeemed gem you have become. Jesus sees you as one whom He loves unconditionally and desires to have you live your life in His salvation and grace.

· Service: Jesus will look at the gifts you have been given and see how you have used those gifts in the service of His Kingdom. Look at your life right now and see what you are doing for the Kingdom. Those things that you do to make an impact for the eternal Kingdom of Jesus are the only things that will be lasting.

Everything that is not eternal is eternally useless – C.S. Lewis

· Glorification: Jesus will judge you and once you have been deemed worthy, he will give you a tremendous gift. He will give you a new body that will never again taste the pain and suffering of mortal life.

Two types of Crowns

Didema: The crowns that were spoken that Jesus would be wearing when He returns were diadems. These were crowns that represented royalty and authority. The most common of the diadem crowns wee made of some type of precious metal with a colored headband, usually blue to represent royalty.