WILL YOU BE CROWNED OR GET CROWNED?

In the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness.

 2 Timothy 4:8a

The New Testament speaks of five crowns that believers can receive from our Savior as a reward for faithfulness to Him.  The IMPERISHABLE crown will be rewarded for running a consistent, steadfast, victorious “race” for Jesus (1 Corinthians 9:24-27).  The crown of REJOICING is rewarded to those who faithfully share the gospel with others with the goal of seeing them trust Christ as their personal Savior.  Paul said to the Thessalonian believers that they would be his crown of rejoicing in Jesus’ presence (1 Thessalonians 2:19).  The crown of RIGHTEOUSNESS is rewarded to those who complete their Christian race with integrity, longing for Jesus’ return (2 Timothy 4:7-8).  The crown of LIFE will be rewarded to those who persevere for Jesus despite great trials, tests, temptations and persecutions, motivated by their love for Christ (James 1:12). Finally the crown of GLORY is rewarded to pastors who faithfully serve the Lord and His flock (1 Peter 5:1-4).

When do we receive these crowns?  We all as believers will stand before the Bema (judgment) seat of Christ to be evaluated and rewarded for our service to Him (2 Corinthians 5:10).  What will we do with these crowns?  Revelation 4:4, 11-12 informs us that the 24 elders (symbolic of believers in Christ) will cast these crowns before God’s throne saying, “Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power!” 

My dad used to say if we didn’t behave we would “Get crowned!”  Will you be crowned in heaven for your loving, thankful, faithful service to your Savior?  I trust that you won’t “get crowned” or punished for all eternity by rejecting the only One who can save your eternal soul (John 3:16; 14:1-6).  Remember, it’s not how you start your life race; it’s how you finish it.

Bob Kulp