THE CROWN OF GLORY

 1 Peter 5:4 – “… and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.”

 

The last of these rewards that can be earned is the Crown of Glory. It is a special reward that God has for His righteous servants – the Pastors.

 

This is the pastor’s crown and will be given to the ministers who faithfully feed the flock of God. This probably could also include preachers, teachers, Sunday School teachers, missionaries, and all those who teach the Word of God in their respective ministries. This crown may signify the importance and sacrifices of bringing up others into the ways of God. God wants those who are saved to grow and learn as much as they can about Him, His Son, and His Holy Spirit, and to do that he uses mature believers who are willing to each other. The Bible says, “I exhort the elders among you as a fellow elder and witness to the sufferings of Christ, as well as one who shares in the glory about to be revealed:  Shepherd God’s flock among you, not overseeing out of compulsion but willingly, as God would have you; not out of greed for money but eagerly; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.” 1 Peter 5:1-4 (CSB)  God can use you to teach and shepherd others. God shows you the extreme importance that He is placing on those who teach and preach the word. Being willing to teach and educate others after they are saved is one of the greatest things you can do for them this side of heaven.

 

Are you willing to be used by God? Will you allow Him to work through you? If so, you will receive the rewards that we have talked about when we get to Heaven.

THE CROWN OF LIFEW

 James 1:12 – “ Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.”

 

The fourth of the crowns is the Crown of Life.

 

Jesus says that He will give this crown to those who undergo severe hardship, testing, tribulation and/or physical death on His behalf. Probably being willing to die for your faith in God would be the ultimate sacrifice. It is the greatest act of courage and love that you can show God. Christians who have been martyred for their faith throughout history will not only be given this crown of life, but other rewards once they enter into heaven. God the Father will honor each one’s trials and tribulations and thus will be rewarding them accordingly. Look at this verse, “Don’t be afraid of what you are about to suffer. Look, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison to test you, and you will experience affliction for ten days. Be faithful to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.” Revelation 2:10 (CSB).

 

I pray that you do not go through these trials and persecutions (although God does say we will face things that try us), but if you do, remember to stand strong, God will reward you.

 

THE CROWN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

2 Timothy 4:8 – “Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.”

 

The third of the crowns we see we can receive is the crown of righteousness.

 

It is available for those who love the appearing of Christ, who anxiously are waiting and looking forward to the day when He will return for His saints. This crown is given to those who have lived a good and righteous life for God while living down here on earth. If you are a believer you have been made righteous before God the Father as a result of Jesus dying on the cross for all of our sins. This means that the righteousness of Jesus has now been imputed to you. It also refers to us living a good and righteous life for God the Father with what time we have left down here. There are Christians who are righteous before God the Father as a result of being saved, called Justification, through the blood of Jesus Christ; but they are not living righteous lives in their actions, words, and behaviors, called Sanctification. There are some people that may be saved in God’s eyes, but still continue to do evil works that the unsaved would do. We all have our flaws, weaknesses, and certain temptations that we may struggle with. It is not perfection but the direction that God is looking for. God just wants each one of us to choose to do the right thing when faced with certain temptations or choices to do something bad. When it is all said and done, these Christians will probably be receiving some of the greatest rewards that God can hand out once they enter into heaven. To live a righteous life for God will really be worth your while as you will definitely be given this crown by God Himself once you enter into heaven.

 

Today, take a good look at your life. Are you living a lifestyle that others can see Jesus in you? Do you seek to live as a mirror of Christ? Have you traded the ways of the world for the ways of God?

Today, seek to start on the path of righteousness with Christ.

 

THE CROWN OF REJOICING

 1 Thessalonians 2:19 – “For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming?

 

The second of the crowns for believers is the Crown of Rejoicing.

 

This crown is available for those who practice evangelism. To those who faithfully are witnesses to the saving grace of God and lead souls to Jesus. This crown has also been named the soul winner’s crown. It indicates here that God will be giving a crown to those who have witnessed to others and seek to lead people to Christ. Telling others about the grace of God, telling others about Jesus, is the greatest thing that you can do for someone while here on this earth. When you help someone to find the Lord, you have just been used as a vessel of God. It says in the Bible, “Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe:” 1 Thessalonians 2:10 KJV  God will judge you by your willingness and desire to be used by Him to witness to others, not necessarily on how many actually get saved, because we are to water and He gives the increase. Christians can be used by God to try to lead others to the Lord. God can fit opportunities for you in your life to witness and work for Him if you allow Him to. Some could be your unsaved friends, family members or co-workers, etc. God has called us to do the sharing – and He in turn will do the saving.

 

So, today, have you been willing to share? Do you pray for opportunities to share? God will reward those who do.

 

THE IMPERISHABLE CROWN

 1 Corinthians 9:24-25 – “Don’t you know that the runners in a stadium all race, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way to win the prize. Now everyone who competes exercises self-control in everything. They do it to receive a perishable crown, but we an imperishable crown.”

 

The first of the five crowns available to Believers is the imperishable crown.

 

Paul uses the athletic example of a foot race in his days. Everyone who enters the race enters with the concept of winning. There was no other reason a person would come and complete – except to win. However, the one who would win the race was the one who spent time daily exercising control in all areas of their life. Physical and mental. They would run to train. They would watch their diets. They would often carry a heavy load to train – so that when they ran without it they would perform so much better. They would mentally prepare themselves. They would picture that they were winning the race. They would concentrate on the turns and other aspects of the race. They would know the rules and procedures.

 

They would also deny themselves much of the worldly pleasures of the day so that they would not be hindered before the day of the race. And thus, the winner of the race received the crown because they had shown self-denial and perseverance.

 

Paul wants us to do the same in our race of the Christian life. We must prepare physically, mentally, and SPIRITUALLY if we wish to receive the crown from Jesus. He reminds us that the Olympic athletics denied and persevered for a crown of leaves that would soon wilt and die. But, the crown for denying the world and persevering in our walk with Christ will last for all eternity. And, every Believer has the right to earn this reward from God.

 

SO, today, take stock of your life. Are you eligible to receive this crown? If not, what hinders you? What can you do to make it different? What’s stopping you?