The speaker should come provided with symbols illustrating as many of the difficulties of Christ’s earthly life as possible. A stone, for the stones they wished to throw at him. Another stone, for the temptation in the wilderness. A piece of hard bread, for his poor fare. A sandal, for the weary roads he travelled. A rod, for his scourgings. Thorns, for his crown of thorns. Nails, for his death on the cross.
These the speaker must use as illustrations of the difficulties and hardships a Christian is sure to meet in following Christ. There is failure. There is ridicule. There are disappointments and vexations, hard work, opposition, self-sacrifice, and many more thorns.
But the speaker will show at the end a crown. That Christ received,—the crown of his Father’s approval, the crown of rejoicing over saved souls.
Just such a crown every Christian will receive, if he follows Christ faithfully. And the crown means glory and honor, among men and angels. It means happiness within and without. It means success, the gratitude of those we have helped, love and blessing and strength and peace. It means riches and power in heaven, and an eternal life with God, who will give us, for our reward, wonderful things we cannot even dream of here, so much more beautiful are they than anything we have ever seen.