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.
Stephanos: The majority of the other crowns that were discussed in the New Testament were stephanos crowns. These were crowns of victory given at the Greek games, which would have been well known due to the influence of Greek culture. These crowns were not made of metal but of olive branches and would last only a short time.
The Five Victory Crowns We can receive from Christ
1. The Imperishable Crown (1 Corinthians 9:24-25)
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 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.
Many of you may not have know the name Michael Phelps before you came here this evening and those who you who did will likely not remember his fame for more than a few months. There will come a day when Michael Phelps will be remembered as nothing more than an Olympic statistic. His fame will pass away, his crown will wilt, his medal will tarnish and he will not be remembered.
The crown gained in the games was fleeting and would fade away but Paul is speaking of something totally different here with the imperishable crown. The fame does not fade away and the leaves will not wilt. What you do here and now for the Kingdom of Christ will never be forgotten! Your service to the King of Kings will be remembered for all eternity. So those thankless jobs and seemingly insignificant tasks will be a part of your eternal fame. Everything you have done will be remembered.
2. The Crown of Righteousness (2 Timothy 4:7-8)
7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Now 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.
Paul again speaks of our standing before Christ to be judged but here Paul puts the focus on righteousness. We will be rewarded with the power of Christ to make us right with the Father. Jesus puts upon us the righteousness that He earned in our place. So that, when we stand in heaven, we are seen as having the standard of complete righteousness.
Even though Paul was about to die, he knew that he would be vindicated by the reward and presence of Christ. Paul held the confident expectation that his faith, his obedience and his life would be given the greatest reward of being right with God.
3. The Crown of Joy (Philippians 4:1)
Therefore, my brothers, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, that is how you should stand firm in the Lord, dear friends!
Paul speaks of receiving a grand joy from his reception in heaven. The crown that Paul speaks of here is one that completes our joy. This would seem to the reward of seeing those we have led to Christ in heaven. Think about it for just a moment, those people whom you impact in this world for Christ will be able to share in eternity.
When I think of this fact, I cannot help but to think of Ray Boltz and his classic song Thank You. It tells the story of a person entering heaven and being thanked by all of those who were in heaven because of their service to Christ. The last person to thank the woman is Christ Himself.
How great will your joy be when you reach heaven? How many people will step through the gates of heaven because of your influence?
4. The Crown of Life (James 1:12)
Blessed 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.
James speaks here of the reward of eternal life that comes only through Jesus Christ. This is the source of our hope that when this life is over and we pass on, there will be a new life for us. Jesus Himself will award every believer with a victory crown of life. This crown is our victory through Christ and the gain of eternal life.
5. The Crown of Glory (1 Peter 5:1-4)
1 To 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: 2 Be 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; 3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.
The final crown that is spoken of in the New Testament is the crown of glory. Peter speaks of the glory that will be gained that will never be lost. It is our share in the power and glory of Christ, glory that will never diminish or fade in any way. We are given a place within this glory by being made completely like Christ.
When Jesus was raised from the dead His body was totally changed and glorified. The hope of every believer is that we will be able to one share in the same glorification that was given to Christ.
What does it mean to be glorified?
You will be made eternal
You will never again know pain or sorrow
You will be made perfect
Are you living your life in such a way as to gain the crown? Are you living in such a way that the fame of your name will echo through heaven for eternity?
Stop waiting and start living the life that Christ has given to you and seek out opportunities to make a difference that will last for all eternity.
