ARE YOU READY
FOR YOUR CROWN?
As I continue on my journey home, there are many struggles and difficulties in my path. Each day has its own challenges, some are big and some are very small. But I see God’s hand in every area of my life, guiding, directing and sometimes He gives those little surprises, or extra blessings from His hand, as He crowns each day with new blessings, “Great is His Faithfulness.”
I have been thinking of crowns, not earthly crowns which are temporary, but of the crowns we shall wear when we get home. There are many “crowns” that we encounter here. There are crowns or rewards of achievement, or as I have encountered lately, dental crowns. As I ponder on “crowns,” I think of a beloved loved one who has gone on ahead, finished his journey and received his heavenly crown.
The Bible talks about the crowns we will be awarded in heaven, but I am not sure if we will be wearing multiple crowns on our heads, but am sure of the rewards we will be given for our service here and for our walk with the Lord. The Bible calls them “Crowns.” Are you anxiously awaiting your crown? If you have walked with the Lord and served Him, there are crowns awaiting you over there, to be awarded us by our Lord Himself.
I was reminded of the chorus of an old hymn that we used to sing, and it goes like this:
There are five crowns which will be given to believers, as found in God’s Word.
“Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, we for an imperishable crown” II Corinthians 9:24-25.
What Paul is saying there is that in a race, all may run, but only one receives the reward. That reward that is won is perishable, but we believers run to receive the “Imperishable Crown.” This first crown is given to believers who faithfully run the race, being obedient to the call He has given each of us. Basically this says to run whatever race God has set out for you, and be the best you can be for God, and faithful in all He has called you to do, even if it means a sacrifice of our time or energy, to faithfully complete the race.
“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? For you are our glory and joy” I Thessalonians 2:19-20.
This second crown is called the “Crown of Rejoicing” or the “Soul Winner’s Crown.” This crown will be given to those who have been faithful witnessing in leading souls to Jesus. It seems to indicate here that God will be giving a crown to those who have been witnessing to others and leading people to Christ.
“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” James 1:12.
This third crown is for those believers who endure great trials, tribulations, and severe suffering even unto death. (See Revelation 2:8-11). This crown is also referred to as “The Martyr’s Crown. Jesus says that He will give this crown to those who undergo severe hardship, testing, tribulation and/or physical death on His behalf. Being willing to die for your faith in Christ would be the ultimate sacrifice. And we know that down through history there have been many martyr’s for Christ, and many are giving their lives in this time, even as we speak.
“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” 2 Timothy 4:8.
This fourth crown is called the “Crown of Righteousness.” It is given to all who are looking for and love His appearing, and are anxiously awaiting His return. 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 our sins. This means that the righteousness of Jesus has now been imputed to you. To live a righteous life for God will be worth it all as you will be given this crown by God Himself once you enter into heaven.
“The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; and when the Chief Shepherd appears you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away”
I Peter 5:1-4.
This fifth and final crown is called “The Pastor’s Crown.” This crown will be given to the ministers who faithfully feed the flock of God. This would also include faithful preachers, teachers, Sunday School teachers, missionaries and all those who teach the Word of God in their various ministries. God can use you to teach and shepherd others. God wants to show the extreme importance that He places on those to teach and preach the Word, and the education and training of those who have come to Jesus under various ministries He has established.
So there are your crowns or rewards that the Lord will be rewarding to His faithful ones at the end of our journey to our heavenly home. As we run this race, we indeed run to win the prize, even though the way is sometimes difficult and challenging, the prize is just ahead. So be blessed and keep on running the race to reach the goal just ahead, maybe just around the next bend in the road.
In Jesus’ Name,
Pastor Sharon 
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