1 Corinthians 9:25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.2 Timothy 2:5 Similarly, if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not receive the victor’s crown unless he competes according to the rules.
I want to talk about crowns today......and the different kinds that we expect to wear when our Lord comes for us. The Bible speaks of five different kinds of crowns. We are going to look at them each individually so we can make sure God has one each in our size! One kind of crown the Bible talks about is in PROV 16:31 Gray hair is a crown of splendor; it is attained by a righteous life. Some of us must be living pretty righteous lives! Well, that’s not the kind of crown that we are going to talk about, but that may be one that you’ve already earned! I’m speaking of crowns that God will reward His children with...
The first crown I want to talk about is an imperishable crown found in 1 COR 3:11For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man’s work. 14If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. 15If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.
Now, what Paul is talking about here is the work we do for Christ whole here on this Earth. You see, it’s just not enough to volunteer to "work for Christ"...you have to have the right motives! You can’t teach, preach, or even give money with wrong motives. This text is clearly talking about good deeds, which are required of all Christians, but we already know that simply "good deeds" will not be enough to get you to Heaven. You must be pure at heart and willingly serve our Lord and Saviour to receive this crown. As a matter of fact, we see that your work will be shown for what it truly is...and will be tested by fire. If your work survives, you will receive your reward. But in vs 15 it says that if your work is burned up, you WILL suffer loss. You may be saved, but only "as one escaping through the flames". You know the story of the servants and the talents. Are you using the talents God gave you for Him?Work hard for Christ...it’s worth it!
Here’s the next crown...The crown of righteousness as mentioned in 2 TIM 4:8Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing. What is the crown of righteousness and how do we get it? Well, the text says it is for all who have longed for His appearing. Do you long for His appearing or are you uncertain? As Christians, we are called to righteousness. Our churches today are failing miserably whenever they don’t preach about sin and its consequences. Christ is coming for a bride without blemish or spot. COL 1:22 But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation— and He’s coming for a righteous people. How serious is it to live in righteousness? 2 PTR 2:20If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning. 21It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them. 22Of them the proverbs are true: "A dog returns to its vomit,"and, "A sow that is washed goes back to her wallowing in the mud."
So how can I get righteousness? ROM 6:16B you are slaves to the one whom you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? So....obedience leads to righteousness. Our Lord will reward us with a crown of righteousness on our judgment day if we can only obey His Word....and not return to "wallowing in the mud." Live righteous...be righteous. You are called to do so!
How about The Crown of Life? How can we get that? JAMES 1:12Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. Oh, man...you mean we have to persevere under trials? YES! Trials WILL come your way. 1 THESS 3:3so that no one would be unsettled by these trials. You know quite well that we were destined for them. But that doesn’t mean we have to fear what is coming to us. REV 2:10Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.
Then there is The Crown of Glory. This crown is directed to certain people in the church...1 PETER 5:1To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder, a witness of Christ’s sufferings and one who also will share in the glory to be revealed: 2Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; 3not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. 4And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.
Listen, whenever you have been put in a position of trust over God’s people, much is expected from you.That "not greedy for money" part needs to be emphasized to some of these TV evangelists! Nanci and I take this charge very seriously and we know that we will be judged on a higher standard than some. After all, God has entrusted to us His most prized posses ion...His children. You wouldn’t leave your child with someone you wouldn’t trust, would you? Neither does God and He expects you to provide the best care possible for His children....just like you would if you left your child at a day care.
At a day care. there are lots of things that must be done to ensure the safety of the children. Germs (prevent from spreading to all the children), fighting amongst one another, saying things that are hateful/hurtful.....sound familiar? I won’t go there today....
Finally, there is a crown of rejoicing. Praise God! Paul says this in 1 THESS 2:19For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you? 20Indeed, you are our glory and joy. This is a crown that Paul is expecting because not only has Paul led these folks to Christ, but now THEY are leading people to Christ. They are birthing ministries within themselves! Church, that is what we are called to do! And do you realize that you are storing up treasures in Heaven every time you help lead someone to Christ. All you have to do is plant the seed....God grows it! But we must do our part. How many people did you invite to church this week? LUKE 15:7I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.
What you are doing on this earth, right now, is deciding how you spend eternity. Are you willing to just squeeze through heaven’s gates...as one escaping through fire...or are you wanting to hear those words from Jesus...MAT 25:21"His master replied, ’Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’
Now is the time to store up our treasures in heaven. Even Jesus himself said MAT 6:19"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Nobody can steal those treasures.....and you will be rewarded eternally!
