THE CHRISTIAN’S CROWNS,
"And round about the throne… I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment, and they had on their heads crowns o gold" (Rev_4:4).
"And the four and twenty elders… cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory, and honour, and power" (Rev_4:10-11).
These "four and twenty elders" seem to represent the company of the redeemed in Heaven. They evidently bear all the characteristics of the glorified Church. 1. They are clothed with white raiment. 2. They worship the Lamb (Rev_5:8). 3. They have been redeemed by the blood. 4. They are round about the throne. 5. They are crowned with glory and honour. 6. They are kings and priests unto God. 7. They hope to reign on the earth (Rev_5:8-10).
I. What these Crowns Signify.
The elders cast their crowns at the Redeemer’s feet, saying, "Thou art worthy to receive glory, and honour, and power." Then these crowns are symbolic of "glory, honour, and power," put upon them through the grace of God their Saviour as a reward for their faithfulness and the fulfilment of His promise, "Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord." But this "glory, and honour, and power," represented in the crowns, those redeemed ones seek to lay at Jesus’ feet, saying, "Thou art worthy," etc.
II. What these Crowns are, and How they are Won.
1. Incorruptible Crown. "Now they do it (practise temperance) to obtain a corruptible crown, but we an incorruptible" (1Co_9:25). Much self-denial was practised by the Olympic runners to gain the glory and the honour of being crowned with a wreath of parsley, which faded and withered in a few hours. But we deny self and keep the body under, "bringing it into subjection" (Luk_11:27), that we might obtain a glory, and an honour, and a power (crown) that is as incorruptible as the Word of Him who hath promised. We are to strive for the mastery, not in our own strength, but panoplied with the "whole armour of God" (Eph_6:12). This crown of glory and honour is within the reach of all the saints (Heb_12:1).
2. Crown of Life. "Blessed is the man that endureth temptation, for when he hath been approved he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love Him" (Jam_1:12, R.V.). We may have life through faith in Christ without ever having the crown of life. This crown, or the "glory, and honour, and power," of life is only given to those who have been tried and approved, and who love Him. Faithfulness to God in times of testing, because of sincere and whole-hearted love for Himself, will win the crown of life (Rev_2:10). Are there not many Christians whose lives are not crowned with glory, honour, and power, but who are more like unto the withered branches, trodden under foot of man, and gathered and burned at their pleasure? (Joh_15:6).
3. Crown of Righteousness. "There is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give to me at that day, and not only to me, but also to all them that have loved His appearing" (2Ti_4:8, R.V.). We win the crown of righteousness, rightness in out daily life, by "loving His appearing." The coming of our Lord is a most practical doctrine. No truth has a mightier influence in righting our lives. "He that hath this hope in him purifieth himself as He is pure."The soul that loves the Lord will long for His appearing, and will daily seek to be like Him. Many do not love His appearing, because their own lives are not right. Such will not "at that day" receive the "glory, and honour, and power" (crown) that belongs to those whose lives here have been righted by the hope and love of His coming. This constraining love was no factor in their earthly spiritual history, so the fruit of it cannot be reaped by them.
4. Crown of Rejoicing. "For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing (glorying, R.V.). Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming? For ye are our glory and joy" (1Th_2:19-20). This crown of glorying is won through soul-winning (Php_4:1). What a glory and honour it is to be used of the Holy Spirit to lead others into a saving knowledge of the Son of God. This is the end of your faith, "even the salvation of souls" (1Pe_1:6). This crown is given when the soul-winner and the soul won meet together "in the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ at His coming." "Behold, I and the children whom the Lord hath given me" (Isa_8:18).
5. Crown of Glory. "When the chief Shepherd shall appear ye shall receive the everlasting crown of His glory" (1Pe_5:4, Alford). To be blessed with the everlasting crown of His glory is to be made a partaker of that "glory, and honour, and power" which is eternally His. The glory which Thou gavest Me, I have given them" (Joh_17:22). We shall be like Him when He, the chief Shepherd, shall appear, crowned with glory, and honour, and eternal life.
III. How these Crowns were Used.
"They fell down before Him, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive," etc. (Rev_4:10-11). They are thankful for the crowns, that they might have something wherewith to honour Him who redeemed them and who sits upon the throne. We don’t labour and strive to win crowns for the grandisement of ourselves in the kingdom of Heaven, but that we might have something to lay at His feet, whereby His glory and honour may be exalted. "Crown Him Lord of all." "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing" (Rev_5:12). This is He who once was crowned with thorns, but now "on His head are many crowns" (Rev_19:12).
Autor: James Smith