We are all in the race of our lives, although many of us are not aware. Some of us race around at our “JOB.” running around trying to impress, getting our work done, wanting to get the deal or work overtime to make that extra buck. Some of us race around trying to get to baseball practice, soccer games or PTO or whatever, our lives seem to be a race! Do you ever feel like you are running aimlessly?
The bible tells us we are all actually in a race for something much bigger than ourselves, a race that we get to win, but only if we understand the prize at the end…
1 Cor 9:24-27 ask the question.
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. Every one who competes in the game 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. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.
There are five crowns that God promises if we will run the “real” race, if we will understand the “real” prize….
The first crown that we are promised is in 1 Cor 9:24, the
Crown of Endurance. We get it from running the race-from walking with Jesus.
The second crown is found in 1 Thess 2:19-20
For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you? Indeed, you are our glory and joy.
The second crown is YOU, or the
Crown
of
soul winning! What is the fruit of your life? Who are your sons and daughters?
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.
The third crown is the
Crown of Life. No Whiners in the Kingdom of God! Persevere, you will have trials!!
11 Tim 4:8
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.
The fourth crown is the
Crown
of Righteousness. Have you ever “Longed for His appearing”? Try it, you will like it, I promise!!
1 Peter 5:4
and when the Chief Shepard appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away. This is your position in the body of Christ!
The fifth crown is the
Crown
of Glory. The 1st through the 4th will lead you to the 5th.
Revelations 4:6-11
also before the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal. In the center, around
the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back. The first living creature was like a Lion. (Matthew) the second was like an ox. (Mark) the third had a face like a man. (Luke) the fourth was like a flying eagle. (John) Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under his wings. Day and night they never stopped saying:
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty
who was, and is, and is to come.”
Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne, and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay there crowns before the throne and say:
“You are worthy, our Lord and God, to
receive glory and honor and power, for
you created all things, and by your will
they were created and have their being.”
It is not enough to be righteous, we must come to the end and be willing to lay every thing down. Did you see it?
We get these 5 amazing crowns for running in the race! We get more jewels and riches than anyone could imagine, and then, as we carry these crowns into the Kingdom of Heaven; proud, righteous, we get to lay them down.
What is the prize? It is Jesus Himself! When we see this face, the very face of Jesus, all of our accumulations, all of our achievements, all of our crowns pale in comparison with this face. So, what do we do? We lay them all down before the throne and say…
is Jesus enough?
Thank you for this article. I have heard so ofter among Chrisitans our abiltiy to earn crowns but I could connect back to scripture even after reading every verse I could find with word crown in it. I had no idea it was to be put together from multiply areas in the bible. I am so thankful to have this understanding now. I will be sharing this explanation with my friends. Praise our Holy Lord!!!
it is so amazing to realise the beauty of comparing scripures that relate to crowns.
beautiful… now get tangled in again right.
from sandi candy
How blessed is the word of God, and the messengers whom he has sent, to bring illumination to the Revelation of his word. Thanks be to God for the breakdown of the crowns
My Neautiful friend in Christ shared with me only a hint of the 5 crowns and said she would save that story for another time…i couldnt wait! so i turned to the net and here i found just what i was looking for. Praise God, he leads you and shows you when you are willing to slow and look. Thank you, messanger! Crowns to you!