Lessons in James: When The Answer Is "No"

God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. James 1:12

The crown of life-- what a treasure to look forward to! I've talked before on the blog about the rewards that God promises to those who love him and obey him faithfully throughout their lives. And there is certainly a great wealth of heavenly treasures that followers of Christ can joyfully anticipate as we wait to meet Jesus face to face. But the process of getting there won't be a bed of roses. No pain, no gain, right?

In fact, Jesus promised us:

Here on earth you WILL have many trials and sorrows...

But, thankfully, in the same breath, He also reminds us:

But take heart, because I have overcome the world! John 16:33

I doubt it's any great surprise to most of us that trials will come and (usually) go. We're all pretty accustomed to aches and pains, whether physical, mental, emotional, financial, or otherwise-- some much worse than others. We know what it is to suffer for a time. But I want to speak, today, to those of you who are facing the trial that will not end. Because sometimes, despite all faith, all prayer, all attempts to trust... that miraculous healing, that needed money, that answer from above simply does not come!

We serve a God who is able to heal, despite what the doctors say; is able to provide, despite an economy that predicts otherwise; is able to offer the perfect words of wisdom when no one else knows what to say.

AND YET, He reserves the right to simply say "no."

For those of you that have heard "no" far more times than you would like, take heart today! Know that if you are honestly seeking and obeying God's will for your life and are faithfully trusting in his provision, your plight is not a form of punishment or a product of sin. Sometimes, God simply calls us to carry a heavy cross, and sometimes for a very long time, perhaps even our entire earthly lives.

In my ongoing struggles with anxiety and depression, which I have talked about here before, I find myself believing sometimes that if my faith were just a little bit stronger, if my prayers were a little more frequent, then maybe I would be able to push past these feelings of panic and fear and, through the power of the Holy Spirit, simply overcome them and live a "normal" life in spite of them. And while that thought sounds great coming from an inspirational coffee mug, the truth is that sometimes, God just doesn't work that way. Sometimes, the life he has called me to live is just different from what others practice and seem to expect of me as well (at least in my head anyway).

And the thing I'm learning to accept is that that's OK! That maybe there isn't anything "wrong" with me. Maybe this is simply the trial that God has called me to, and that maybe, in fact, quite possibly, he has no intention of removing it any time soon, if ever, this side of heaven.

And in that acceptance, I am also learning to believe that despite my "failure", as a result of these struggles, to do the things, sometimes, that other Christians seem to do so easily, I am not a disappointment to my Father. I am not less of a Christian. And, while I certainly lack the grace and patience at times that God requires, I have pressed on in faith and trust, and will one day receive that crown of life!

So, sufferer, whoever you are, whatever your pain, know that you are not "broken" either; you are not being punished-- you are a treasure to your Maker (who made you exactly as you are), and you have a great treasure waiting for you, too!

I'll leave you with these precious words by Charles H. Spurgeon, which my husband so graciously passed along to me yesterday:

"You Little-Faiths, you Despondencies, you Much-Afraids, you Feeble-Minds, you that sigh more than  you sing, you that would but cannot, you that have a great heart for holiness, but feel beaten back in your struggles, the Lord shall give you his love, his grace, his favor, as surely as he gives it to those who can do great things in his name."

From The Archives...

I have been admittedly a bit distracted lately. I haven't felt like the Lord has been impressing anything specific on my heart over the last couple weeks that needs to be shared here. But, really, I probably have not been in a position to pay due attention and hear whatever he might want to say.

So, from one pre-occupied heart to another, here is a message from the archives... one that is as much for me today as it is for you. Be blessed!

Then [Jesus] told them a story: "A rich man had a fertile farm that produced fine crops. He said to himself, 'What should I do? I don't have room for all my crops.' Then he said, 'I know! I'll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I'll have room enough to store all my wheat and other goods. And I'll sit back and say to myself, "My friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Eat, drink, and be merry!"'

"But God said to him, 'You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?'

"Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God." Luke 12:16-21 NLT

This passage of Scripture has been a recurring theme lately in my own self-denial story. It has been a slow process that began about a year and a half ago, when the Lord grabbed hold of my heart and called me to hand over a part of my life that most would consider one of the few areas that we should hold onto. Since then, the Lord has actually been redirecting my heart and mind closer to a middle ground, but continuously reminding me that HE is the Lord of life and only he is qualified to determine when and if a life is created.

Since that time, there have been a number of other areas in my life that have been pulled apart and exposed, quite painfully at times, opening my eyes to the fact that the moment I begin to believe that I have finally given everything over to the Lord, He is there, waiting to reveal the next one. The truth I have finally come to realize is that in my human selfishness, there will always be something that I am still holding back; but I am thankful that God is patient with me and that, as long as I am willing to ask, he will be willing to reveal each and every one of those idols in my life, one at a time, until I am finally standing in front of him and that work is finally complete (Phil. 1:6).

The most recent of these "idols" in my life, and the one that resonates the clearest with the passage of Scripture above, is in my love of beautiful surroundings: my home. I love watching HGTV and dreaming about the house that I am going to live in someday. I love thinking about, and not just thinking but realistically planning, when and where we are going to buy this house, budgeting for renovations on an old house with lots of character, right down to the last tufted pillow on the living room sofa.

Now don't get me wrong. There is nothing wrong with having a nice house, having beautiful things, even spending time and money on a project like a home renovation. The Bible does not say that "money" or any of the things that you can buy with money are evil in and of themselves; it says that the LOVE of money is the root of all kinds of evil (1 Tim. 6:10).

Now, I wouldn't say that I am so obsessed with having this dream house that it interferes with my service for the Lord. The issue isn't so much whether or not I can have these things; it just keeps coming back to why I want them. I mean, really, what's the point? I know that God has given us material things to enjoy, and we don't need to feel guilty when we do enjoy those things, but the theme that keeps running through my head is, "Why do I even want this in the first place?" I just keep thinking, "What if we go buy this house and spend the next two years and thousands of dollars fixing it up, and the day after we hammer the last nail into the last cabinet door, Jesus raptures his church? What then? I know there's nothing wrong with having the house and spending that money, but will I honestly be content to stand before the Lord on that day and say "Look what I did with these last two years and all that money."? I don't want to look Jesus in the eye and wonder, "Could I have used that time and money more wisely?" I want to know that I have been a good steward of the gifts he has given me.

So, as my priorities keep changing and my eyes turn more and more fully towards the real prize, I offer this testimony as a reminder that we are running out of time (Rev. 22:7, 12-13, 20) and that we need to be using "our" time and talents to accomplish the work of the kingdom rather than storing up material treasures, building a name for ourselves in the business world, or even promoting our church when we should be promoting simply Jesus. Notice in that passage above, we are told that it is important to have a rich relationship with the Lord, not just a relationship, but a rich one.

For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have --Jesus Christ. Anyone who builds on that foundation may use a variety of materials --gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay, or straw. But on the judgement day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person's work has any value. If the work survives, that builder will receive a reward. But if the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss. The builder will be saved, but like someone barely escaping through a wall of flames. 1 Corin. 3:11-15

I don't want to enter heaven by the skin of my teeth. I want to have lived a life that will come through the fire and be worthy of reward. The clearest way I see to accomplish that is simply to rid my life of as many stumbling blocks as possible and fill those gaps with things that will edify me and bless others.

What's something in your life that has maybe become more of an "idol" than it should be? What are some things you are doing to prepare for the coming of our King?

What Can I Offer You, My King

The incorruptible crown. The crown of life. The crown of exultation. The crown of glory. And the crown of righteousness. These five crowns are some of the potential prizes that await us in heaven if we strive to earn them according to the rules of the race that have been laid out for us in scripture.

But what's the point? Isn't it a bit mercenary to expect "prizes" or rewards once we get to heaven? Isn't heaven itself and eternal life with Jesus enough?

PICTURE THIS...

And instantly I was in the Spirit, and I saw a throne in heaven and someone sitting on it. The one sitting on the throne was as brilliant as gemstones-- like jasper and carnelian. And the glow of an emerald circled his throne like a rainbow.

Twenty-four thrones surrounded him, and twenty-four elders sat on them. They were all clothed in white and had gold crowns on their heads.

From the throne came flashes of lightning and the rumble of thunder. 

And in front of the throne were seven torches with burning flames. This is the sevenfold Spirit of God. In front of the throne was a shiny sea of glass, sparkling like crystal. Revelation 4:2-6a

In these verses, God is giving John a vision of heaven. The scene that unfolds is unlike anything we could possibly imagine, and even with the incredible imagery that John attempts to give us, we cannot possibly even begin to wrap our heads around the magnitude of it. But someday, we're going to be there!  Someday we will see these wonders with our own eyes... and we will hear and participate in a worship scene that has been going on in heaven for ages...

In the center and around the throne were four living beings, each covered with eyes, front and back.

The first of these living beings was like a lion; the second was like an ox; the third had a human face; and the fourth was like an eagle in flight.

Each of these living beings had six wings, and their wings were covered all over with eyes, inside and out. Day after day and night after night they keep on saying,

"Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty-- the one who always was, who is, and who is still to come." Revelation 4:6b-8

These four living creatures are like the living Bose system of heaven. Their sole job is to proclaim the name of Jesus, to SHOUT his holiness. They are like the "worship leaders" of heaven, and there won't be any problem following along. Notice also that it says that they repeat these words "day after day and night after night." These guys don't take a break. This is what they were created for. This is what they do. They do not cease to give praise to the King. And it isn't hard to imagine why. As they stand in the presence of Almighty God, how could they help but praise his name? All they can say is "holy, holy, holy..."

Notice the response of the 24 elders as this worship scene continues... (We do not know who the 24 elders are, but we do know that they are men; they are not angels.)

Whenever the living beings give glory and honor and thanks to the one sitting on the throne (the one who lives forever and ever), the twenty-four elders fall down and worship the one sitting on the throne (the one who lives forever and ever).

And they lay their crowns before the throne and say,

"You are worthy, O Lord our God, to receive glory and honor and power. For you created all things, and they exist because you created what you pleased." Revelation 4:9-11 (emphasis added) 

The elders lay their crowns at the feet of Jesus.

It's not about the crowns; it's about what those crowns represent. For us, those crowns, the five mentioned above, are the result of years of selfless service to our master. They represent a life devoted to valuing righteousness and holiness above comfort and status and "happiness". It is ALL that we bring to heaven, and it will be the ONLY thing we have to give back to the one who gave all to us.

And it's not a one-time act of worship that will take place when we get to heaven and then be forgotten about as we continue into eternity. Notice that the scripture says, "whenever the living beings give glory..." This happens over and over and over again. It has been happening for ages and it will continue to be repeated throughout the ages to come. This is a form of worship which we will take part in, and the level to which we are able to participate will be determined solely by what we have put into it in these few short years on earth. We don't get a second chance. We don't get a do-over. And we don't get to keep earning rewards after we get to heaven. They must be earned now. And they will be a means with which we will forever worship our King.

But as long as we are on this earth, it is never too late to start! Maybe you have lived many years and have just now come to know the Lord. Do not feel defeated or hopeless, like you could never "catch up" to someone who has been walking with the Lord for years. Commit now to live the rest of your life in the sacrifice and service of your Savior! He knows your heart!

While Jesus was in the Temple, he watched the rich people dropping their gifts in the collection box. Then a poor widow came by and dropped in two small coins. "I tell you the truth," Jesus said, "this poor widow has given more than all the rest of them. For they have given a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she has." Luke 21:1-4

*Remember, the rewarding of the crowns, and the worship and celebrations that have followed, have all been taking place in the time after the rapture, during the tribulation. Next, we will see what we can expect as we return with Jesus to earth to rule and to reign, and to watch as He puts an end to Satan and to the Antichrist, and restores the earth after the devastation of the tribulation. The sun is coming up...

Death Is Gain

And now the prize awaits me-- the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me, but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing. 2 Tim. 4:8

This fifth crown, the crown of righteousness, is for those who are looking forward to Christ's return. I referenced this briefly in a previous post, as I shared what it means to honestly have a heavenly mindset, one that sincerely longs with an unquenchable ache to be physically present with Jesus and to leave this world behind without ever looking back. When your heart and mind are aligned with Christ's, you understand what Paul meant when he said, "To live is Christ and to die is gain." (Phil. 1:21) or as the New Living Translation puts it, "For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better." How many people do you know that could honestly say they look forward to death because it means life with Christ? Could you?

Pastor J. Mark Martin of Calvary Community Church in Phoenix explains that people who are sincerely looking forward to the return of Christ do these three things:

• They see the invisible: Those who are aware of the reality of who God is and what he is capable of understand that there is far more to this world than what we can see with our eyes. There is a very real spiritual world, as we are told in Ephesians 6:12, one made up of both angels and demons. There is a true battle going on around us. And as Elisha so boldly reminded his servant in 2 Kings 6:16, as they were seemingly alone, surrounded by the enemy, we need never fear, because God is ALWAYS with us!

When the servant of the man of God got up early the next morning and went outside, there were troops, horses, and chariots everywhere. "Oh, sir, what will we do now?" the young man cried to Elisha.

"Don't be afraid!" Elisha told him. "For there are more on our side than on theirs!" Then Elisha prayed, "O Lord, open his eyes and let  him see!" The Lord opened the young man's eyes, and when he looked up, he saw that the hillside around Elisha was filled with horses and chariots of fire. 2 Kings 6:15-17

• They hear the inaudible: They cultivate an ability to "hear" from the Lord. God may not speak to us audibly the way he used to in the Old Testament, but He absolutely still speaks. However, it most likely will not be a shout, but rather, a gentle whisper...

"Go out and stand before me on the mountain," the Lord told him. And as Elijah stood there, the Lord passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. 1 Kings 19:11-13 (emphasis added)

Learning to listen for that gentle whisper takes a willingness simply to be still and to be quiet. And it takes the obedience to pour yourself fully into His Word. The Bible is the living, breathing, direct word of God. It is His love letter to us. It is how He speaks to us. Every word, from Genesis to Revelation, is inerrant, infallible, and unshakably applicable to every person and every life! God WILL NOT contradict his word; if you feel that God is telling you to do something or giving you "permission" to do something that does not line up in any way with any part of scripture, then it is NOT a word from God. We must learn to listen AND to obey.

• They embrace the imperishable: With seeing the invisible and hearing the inaudible, comes the ability to see and respond to the world through God's eyes. We need to be able to see everything and everyone for what they really are. There are only two kinds of things and two kinds of people in this world: there are "things" that will last forever and things that will soon be gone; and there are people who know Jesus and people who don't. It needs to be our mission to understand the difference and to look at the world through that lens. It all comes back to what is eternal and what is not. When we stand before Jesus, what will merit one of these heavenly crowns, and what will be burned up and blown away with the chaff? And how many people who we knew on this earth will be standing there beside us? How many will not?

Jesus says in Matthew 7:21-23, "Not everyone who calls out to me, 'Lord! Lord!' will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. On judgment day many will say to me, 'Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.' But I will reply, 'I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God's laws.'"

A Leader Worth Following

And now, a word to you who are elders in the churches. I, too, am an elder and a witness to the sufferings of Christ. And I, too, will share in his glory when he is revealed to the whole world. As a fellow elder, I appeal to you: Care for the flock that God has entrusted to you. Watch over it willingly, not grudgingly-- not for what you will get out of it, but because you are eager to serve God. Don't lord it over the people assigned to your care, but lead them by your own good example. And when the Great Shepherd appears, you will receive a crown of never-ending glory and honor. 1 Peter 5:1-4

The next crown in this series is the crown of glory, also known as the shepherd's or elder's crown. This crown is for those who have served as leaders within the church, such as pastors and elders, as well as for those who have been committed to supporting and lifting up those leaders.

Just like any other crown that we've seen thus far, there are certain criteria and standards that people who receive this crown must have strived for. Simply being in a position of leadership within your church will not entitle you to this crown; you must aim to be the type of leader that God calls you to be. We can't fool God. He sees the heart, and he is a just God. He isn't going to pat us on the back and say, "Well done, good and faithful servant" if we didn't do anything in our life worthy of that commendation.

1 Peter 5:1-4 gives us a few criteria for our leaders (and supporters) to follow in order to earn this crown:

1. "A witness to the sufferings of Christ" (v.1): As a leader in the church, and as one who actively supports our leaders, we all need to be prepared for the trials and tribulations that WILL come. It's not a matter of if, but of when and how. The way that we respond to those attacks when they come will be what determines how effective we are as leaders. As someone in a position of leadership, many eyes will be on you, watching and waiting to see whether or not you practice what you preach when that loved one gets sick, when the money just isn't there, when the enemy wrecks havoc.

2. "Care for the flock... willingly, not grudgingly-- not for what you will get out of it, but because you are eager to serve God." (v.2): Be a willing servant-- The Lord loves a cheerful giver! Our leaders need to have hearts that are excited to be doing what they're doing. This doesn't mean that you don't have hard days, that you don't get tired, that you don't ever need a break... but leaders in the church need to be joyful in what they are doing. And they can't be motivated by human praise, popularity or position. As always, in everything we do, we need to be doing everything unto the Lord, for His praise and approval, for His eyes only, for Him to reward in His time. Remember that whatever praise we receive now will be all the reward we get for that service. It's the ones that get neglected, looked over, ignored, and forgotten that God has seen and that God will reward!

3. "Don't lord it over the people assigned to your care, but lead them by your own good example." (v.3): It can be very easy to allow a position of leadership to go to your head, causing you to feel a sense of superiority. We have to be careful to remember that we are all sinners, we are all broken, and we are all redeemed by nothing but the blood of Jesus. The ground is level at the foot of the cross! It is not our job to make people into what we think they should be; it is the job of leaders to set a righteous example. And, ultimately, in following the footsteps of Christ, we MUST be servants if we ever expect to be effective leaders! "For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many." Matt. 20:28

So, what about the rest of us? What if we're not in a position of leadership? Here are some simple ways we can offer support to those in leadership over us:

• Pray! As always, prayer is a mighty weapon against the enemy, and our leaders, more than anyone, desperately need our prayer for protection, provision, and encouragement!
• Give! Financial giving is a wonderful form of worship, and it doesn't have to stop with "tithing". Give as the Lord leads you. Maybe he's leading you to give to a specific ministry. Maybe he's leading you to give a little extra anonymous gift to your pastor or another leader in your church.
• Serve! Serve in the church through an organized ministry. Or maybe God is calling you to serve your pastor and his wife by cleaning their house, by babysitting their kids so they can go on a date, by cooking them a meal... the possibilities are endless!

If we are faithful, as leaders AND as supporters, to follow these criteria in all that we do in support of the church, we can rest assured that "when the Great Shepherd appears, [we] will receive a crown of never-ending glory and honor." Now, that's something to get excited about!!

The Ultimate Joy

After all, what gives us hope and joy, and what will be our proud reward and crown as we stand before our Lord Jesus when he returns? It is you! Yes, you are our pride and joy. 1 Thess. 2:19-20

These words from Paul, addressed to the church at Thessalonica, reveal the sense of accomplishment and satisfaction that he, Timothy and Silas feel about the work that they have completed in the lives of these people. They have wholly invested their time and energy into fulfilling the great commission: they have shared the gospel with them, they have made disciples of them, and they have reaped an eternal reward in them. We can have that same reward if we also are willing to commit our lives to the work of the gospel. The third crown in this little series-within-a-series is the crown of exultation, and it is for those who have spent their lives fulfilling the great commission (Matt. 28:19-20).

Daniel 12:3 says, "Those who are wise will shine as bright as the sky, and those who lead many to righteousness will shine like the stars forever."

So, how do we fulfill the great commission?

• Physically, verbally tell people about Jesus. Share the gospel with as many people as possible. You don't need special training or unique skills to do this. If you are able to speak, you are able to share the gospel.
• Become a missionary, wherever God has called you. Begin in your home, and go out into your neighborhood, your city, your state, your country, and throughout the world.
• Support those who are missionaries. Give financially to those who are out on the front lines. God hasn't called every single person to travel to the remote parts of the world, but if you can afford to buy Starbucks once a day, you can afford to give financially in support of the people who are called to that life. God will reward your faithfulness to support the work of missions as much as he will reward those out doing the ministering.
• Pray! Pray for the missionaries. Pray for the lost. Pray for the salvation of the world. 
• Disciple. God didn't call us to make converts; he called us to make DISCIPLES! As new people, who have just accepted the Lord, begin to show up at your church or at your campus ministry, take them under your wing and teach them how to read their Bible, how to live out their new faith, how to be the church, so they don't end up just going to church, or worse, end up fizzling out and returning to their old life.

And what's the result?

• Ultimately: More people in heaven. Fewer people in hell. 
• More people living abundant lives here on earth, rather than just "getting by".
• More people who are turning around and finding more people to share the gospel with and to disciple themselves.
• More glory to God as lives are transformed and the enemy is defeated.
• And personally: a lasting joy in heaven for each person who has been obedient to fulfill this calling. Notice that Paul said that the people would be their joy in heaven. When we get to heaven, part of the joy that we experience will be the actual people whom we have affected for Christ in this life. Every time we share the gospel with someone, a seed is planted. They may receive Christ at that moment, or it may happen 10 years down the road and we may never know. But one day, we will finally see the effect of a seed-planting life, when we learn that that one person who we shared the gospel with years ago, never saw again and thought would never come to Christ, actually did, and as a result, ended up sharing Christ with hundreds more people. One day, we'll finally get to see just how big (or how small) of a ripple we really caused in this world. 

You know, it's so easy to allow our past mistakes, failures, and missed opportunities to cripple us, making us feel like we are incapable of doing better or like we just don't deserve another chance. We're afraid that people could never take us seriously after the way we used to live our lives, so why bother trying. We dwell on the failures and allow it to keep us from living up to our potential. But God didn't call the equipped; he equips the called. And he has called you!

Romans 8:1 says, "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."

If you have placed your trust in Jesus, then your past mistakes have been erased. You don't have to worry about working your way out of the pit of your failures; Jesus did that for you on the cross. All you have to do now is get walking. And you can start by telling someone about Jesus!

A Crown Won Through Pain

Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. James 1:2-3

It's definitely easier said than done, and we all know that hindsight is 20/20. It's so easy to look back at a trial that we've come out of and readjust our attitudes once we've had time to lick our wounds. It's easy to watch someone else suffering through a trial and offer sound biblical advice about what the appropriate godly response should be. But in the moment? That's not quite so simple.

Sometimes we'll get it right. Sometimes the truth will win out and we'll find ourselves living out Christ the way we ought to. A rude driver will cut you off in traffic and you'll simply slow down and let him pass. You'll get the news at work that you're getting laid off and you'll thank God for removing you from a job that he clearly does not want you at anymore, joyful at the thought that whatever he has next for you is exactly what you need, regardless of how comfortable or appealing it may or may not be. A friend or relative will say something hurtful and you'll respond in love, recognizing that you have no right to be angry and remembering that no matter what anyone says or does to you, they can never wrong you more than you have wronged Christ. Sometimes, you will... and sometimes, probably a lot of times, you won't. I certainly have not, far more times than I care to admit. But we all keep running back to the word, asking God for the same forgiveness that we have been unwilling to give others, and He stands us back up so we can try again...

And for those times when we do get it right, for those times when we face pain, suffering, wrongs, and hurts, particularly when it is a direct result of the fact that we follow Jesus, and we do respond correctly, we do use it as an opportunity to draw closer to God, we do persevere, and we do turn those blows from the enemy into an opportunity for praise, then we will reap an eternal reward: the crown of life.

This second crown, the crown of life, also known as the martyr's crown, is for those who have endured pain and suffering in this life and have reflected Christ through the midst of the trials. It is first and foremost for those who have suffered the ultimate persecution, martyrdom, for their belief in Jesus Christ and their refusal to deny him, no matter the cost.

But this crown is not limited to those who have died for Christ. It is reserved also for those who choose to truly live for him. The Lord knows that sometimes it is harder to live for Him than to die for Him. And he has this crown waiting for all who choose to do so. We can choose to live in the moment, seeking the thing that will give us instant satisfaction: a snap back after a hurtful comment; a spiteful attempt at "getting even"; an outburst; or simply a refusal to make sacrifices out of a desire to live a "comfortable" life rather than one devoted to honoring God in everything we do, no matter how awkward or inconvenient it may be. OR, we can choose to give up our "rights" and allow God to seek justice in his time, to do his will in our lives, and to reward his children when and how he sees fit.

For our present troubles are small and won't last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! 2 Corinthians 4:17

A Crown That Lasts

And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. 1 Corin. 9:25 NKJV

In the previous post, we talked about what it means to live a "memorable" life and about the reality of there being rewards in heaven. When we live our lives in a way worthy of reward, our heavenly Father will be faithful to acknowledge each and every faithful deed and reward us accordingly. And it is important to remember that in order to receive a heavenly reward, we need to be sure to not seek an earthly one. Any "reward" or recognition we receive now is all the reward we are going to get. Matthew 6:1-6,16-18

But for the rest, for all of those moments that seem to go unnoticed, God has seen every one of them and has stored up an eternal treasure for us in heaven. And one tangible way that we will be rewarded is with heavenly crowns. There are five that the Bible speaks of. The first one is mentioned in the verse above. Bible teachers refer to it as the "winner's crown", also the "imperishable" or "incorruptible" crown. This crown is reserved for those who have run the race with faithfulness and endurance, as seen here:

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. And now the prize awaits me-- the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing. 2 Tim. 4:7-8 NLT

He has fought the good fight: Fighting the good fight means living that "memorable" life that we talked about last time. It means putting Christ first, putting others ahead of ourselves, laying aside our own desires, ambitions and comforts and living with the sole purpose of serving others and glorifying God. Philippians 2:3-8

He has finished the race: Living the Christian life isn't a one-time decision to accept Jesus as our savior. It is a daily, hourly, even minute by minute choice to submit to Christ and surrender your will to his. And it is a struggle, as sin wars within us against our calling to obey (Romans 7:14-25), that we must continue to fight until the day we meet Jesus face to face. It is a life-long choice to abandon everything that our human nature and the world we live in would urge us to pursue and to instead run after the not-so-popular life that Christ modeled for us. Romans 12:2

He has remained faithful: Faithfulness is something that has become almost a lost concept in our society. Don't like your job? Get a new one. Don't love your wife anymore? Get a divorce. Not having fun anymore? Move on to something that's more "entertaining". Don't like something your pastor said on Sunday? Find a church that suits your taste better. In a world where our attention span and capacity for true loyalty to anyone or anything is about as long as a 30 second sound bite, the idea of staying fully committed to a god that we cannot see or touch is nearly non-existent. Our God requires the kind of faithfulness that says, "I will love you, praise you, and serve you when I'm having fun, when life is going great, when I lose my job, when my husband or child dies, when everyone at work thinks I'm weird and crazy for talking about Jesus all the time, when I'm tired, when I can't do anything else." It is the kind of loyalty that says "for better or worse" and truly means it.

The prize is for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing: When your heart aligns with Christ's in such a way that allows you to fight the good fight, to finish the race, and to remain faithful, then your one and only desire will be to run into the arms of the one person who makes all of that possible, and for that day to come as soon as possible. The longing for heaven and for the company of Jesus should be so strong within you that there is an actual battle raging within you. Just as Paul was so painfully conflicted between his desire to depart and be with Christ and the need of his brothers and sisters for him to stay (Philippians 1:21-24), so we should be equally torn. Notice, however, that Paul's struggle was not, "I love my life. I want to experience all that life has to offer before I go. I want to enjoy what I have while I have it. I want to try new things before I die, etc." The source of his struggle was not in what he could gain, but in what others needed of him and how Christ could potentially use him to serve others and to further God's kingdom. This should be our struggle. If your struggle lies in not being ready to give up what you have here on earth, then you must reevaluate where your priorities lie. We need to be able to say, "Come quickly, Lord Jesus! There is nothing here for me." We need to be able to run after him and never pause for a moment to even look back. Genesis 19:26

Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world. John 16:33

So many times in life, it can feel like we are fighting a losing battle, like the whole world hates us and everything that we stand for, like the world is out to get us, and all truth and justice have been abandoned. When you feel like you no longer belong to this world and are truly an alien in a hostile battleground, you will know that you are truly fighting the good fight, finishing the race, remaining faithful, and eagerly awaiting his return.

And once you know this, then you will know that when no one else around you sees or acknowledges your faithfulness, God sees it all, and He is keeping a record. He has seen every act of kindness, heard every prayer, and witnessed every secret moment of service. The one who is worthy of all praise has seen your heart and is eagerly preparing to place a crown upon your head.

Forget-Me-Not

And instantly I was in the Spirit, and I saw a throne in heaven and someone sitting on it. The one sitting on the throne was as brilliant as gemstones-- like jasper and carnelian. And the glow of an emerald circled his throne like a rainbow. Rev. 4:2-3

Christ is seated on the throne, and this dazzling sight is going to be our introduction to heaven when the church is "raptured". The throne that we see here is not the "great white throne", the throne of judgment and condemnation that the world will face (Rev. 20:11-15). For the world, a day of judgment is coming; that moment is still looming in their future. But for those who believe in Jesus now, that day is in the past. We have been judged and found not guilty, covered by the innocent blood of Jesus Christ. We will not face the great white throne, but we will come before another throne...

At the rapture of the church, we will stand before the judgment seat of Christ, or the Bema seat. The Bema seat refers to the type of platform that the Roman Olympic judges would stand on as they awarded the competitors with their winners' crowns. It is a judgment of commendation, NOT condemnation.

1 Corinthians 9:25 tells us, "All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize." The verse just before this one tells us, "Don't you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win!"

Some might say that heaven and eternal life with Jesus is all the "reward" they could ever need, that to want anything more than that is greedy and mercenary. But to believe that you will be content with the bare minimum is as naive as a 6 year old declaring that he loves his little toy car and never wants another car for as long as he lives. In about 10 years, as his maturity and awareness grow, his tune is going to change. Jesus spoke profusely about rewards in heaven. Heaven itself is not a reward. You cannot earn heaven. Heaven is a gift. We have to live our lives in such a way that we will have stored up an eternal reward once we get there. Right now, in our present spiritual state, we are like that little boy, so naive and unaware of the magnitude of what awaits us. Don't arrive at heaven, not having taken the race seriously and be disappointed when the person next to you is driving a Mercedes and you're still playing with your Hot Wheels. Don't be fooled into believing that the prize isn't real or that you don't have to work to get it. Eternal life is a free gift, and you cannot lose your salvation. But the rewards that await you once you get there must be earned.

"Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take away your crown." Rev. 3:11

As believers in Jesus Christ, we will NEVER be judged for our sins. Romans 5:1 and 8:1 assure us that every moment of weakness, every moment of selfishness, every moment of self-promotion, self-centeredness and pride will be erased. God promises us that our sins will be fully and completely forgotten (Hebrews 8:12, Micah 7:19, Isaiah 43:25, Jeremiah 31:34). While that thought is unbelievably comforting, as it guarantees that we won't have to suffer the punishment that we deserve for the many sins in our lives, I believe it will also be a bit of a rude awakening for some.

We are all aware of the "obvious" moments of failure in our lives, but I wonder how many paths were pursued, how many "good" deeds were done, how many "accomplishments" were achieved in life that we thought were important or valuable, and in reality held absolutely no eternal value. They may have enriched our lives or the lives of others in the moment, but when we stand before God on our day of "judgment", how many of those moments that we took pride in and treasured so much in this life will suddenly be as if they never existed? And likewise, once the fire has destroyed all of the worthless moments of our lives, how much will remain? Will there be a great wealth of eternally enduring righteous deeds, worthy of remembrance and reward? Or will we look back and realize that we have missed the point entirely, having made it into heaven "like someone barely escaping through a wall of flames"?(1 Corin. 3:15)

Jesus promises to wipe away all of our tears, but that doesn't necessarily mean that there won't be a moment of recognition when we finally come face to face with him. It is reasonable to believe that there will be a moment of truth when all the dark little areas that not even we were fully aware of are brought to light(1 Corin. 4:5). A moment, perhaps, when we suddenly remember and must acknowledge everything that we could have done for him, but didn't. Sadly, there will be many who live their lives for themselves, never truly sacrificing their own desires to serve God, and will be sorely disappointed when they realize how much those "intangible" eternal rewards are really worth.

You can live a forgettable life, one centered around making yourself "happy", "fulfilled", "comfortable", "accomplished", "known", "successful", and "content". Or you can live a life worth remembering, one lived in the unashamed and self-sacrificing slavery and service to the King, one centered around making Jesus known, glorified, and famous.

What kind of life will you live? Will you be famous here on this earth and forgotten for eternity? Or will you give up your rights in this life and be remembered throughout the ages?