In the United Kingdom, on Saturday 6th May 2023, Prince Charles will be crowned King Charles 111 and there is a lot of discussion about crowns and which ones will be worn.
In medieval times, the next person in line to the throne was often murdered so that the crown could be hijacked – stolen.
“Hold fast what you have so no-one will take your crown” (Revelation 3:11).
The Greek word for “crown” is stephanos and it means “a badge of royalty”. This word is used figuratively in the New Testament concerning our rewards in heaven.
Your ‘badge’ of Royalty...
There are five crowns that can be awarded to believers.
The Crown of Rejoicing.
The Crown of Glory.
The Crown of Life.
The Imperishable Crown.
The Crown of Righteousness.
However, when I speak of crowns or rewards, I do not mean ‘earning’ our way into heaven. No-one can ‘earn’ their way in; entrance is a gift from God through His shed blood. And anyone can enter if having accepted His free gift of Salvation regardless of what rewards or crowns earned,”If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved” (1 Corinthians 3:15).
The Bible is clear that we can earn crowns – and rewards, “Watch yourselves, that you do not lose what we have accomplished (worked for) that we may receive a full reward” (2 John 1,8).
You may say, ‘the Crown of Righteousness is one crown I won’t get as I am not righteous enough’. And it’s true, that we can never be righteous enough. But the Apostle Paul made clear the definition of righteousness and it isn’t what we may think…
“I have finished the course. I have kept the faith. There is laid up for me on that ‘Coronation day’ the Crown of Righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge will award me on that day, AND NOT ONLY TO ME, but ALSO TO ALL THOSE WHO LOVE HIS APPEARING” (2 Timothy 4:8).
This ‘Falling Crown’ era.
We are living in the days of witnessing the crowns of Christians dropping off by the dozen! Yet how foolish to have been faithful to the Lord for years, then to lose their crown because of wanting to ‘identify’ with the world so as not to lose friends… “Let NO-ONE take your crown”. It reminds me of the five foolish virgins in Matthew 25 who lost their crowns.
Your Coronation day! The day the righteous Judge Himself will present your crown(s).
But… for Christians living in such persecuted times as these, it will take tenacity, endurance, longsuffering, courage, and faith – to secure your Coronation day!
“Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him” (James 1:12).
There are many people camping out for 3/4 days outside Buckingham Palace to get a glimpse of the newly crowned King passing by in the golden coach.
But we won’t just get a little glimpse of the King of Kings! Because He has invited us to share and enjoy His glorious home and pleasures with Him! What a generous and humble King of Kings! Our Saviour – who wore a crown of thorns for us.
(Scriptures: James 1:12. Philippians 4:1. 1 Corinthians 9:25. Revelation 2:10. 1 Peter 5:1-4. 1 Corinthians 9:24).
God bless you,
Christine
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