Finally, in our series on our Meditations on the Heavenly crowns, we shall reflect on the Final Crown, around which I need to forewarn, at this stage is a ring of intrigue The Crown of Righteousness.
“Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.” (II Tim 4:8)
Now this is quite amazing. If all the Crowns-about which, we reflected so far- have been given for some ACTION, this Crown is being reserved only for EXPECTATION. Boy, even those keenly anticipating the Lord’s return would land a prize! There are two dimensions of thought on this subject.
Firstly, those who are really in right earnest looking for the RETURN OF THE REDEEMMER would not be passive but passionate. As such they would be on the move alerting many about the imminent coming of the eminent KING, thereby winning souls for the Kingdom (to them would belong the Incorruptible crown besides the Crowns of rejoicing).
Secondly, there may be some who are eagerly awaiting the Lord’s return but are handicapped at once coming under the category of those “who can only stand and wait and YET SERVE” (thanks John Milton) like Apostle Paul. His movements restricted by imprisonment, he kept sending epistles to Churches which he otherwise would have visited. Ditto some bed-ridden patients, eagerly awaiting the Rapture who also serve with their passionate intercessory prayer ministry.
The active/passive acts of service emanating from the heart of eager expectation of the ethereal would receive reward by way of Crowns of Righteousness. For those conversant with the account of Father of faith being considered righteous for a passive act of merely believing (Genesis 15:6), the thought of a Crown of Righteousness being given to even those who only “eagerly await His return” would be in perfect harmony with the Scripture.
So finally, keeping in focus all the 5 types of Crowns awaiting us, I intend to conclude with a small poem…
Dear Christian friend, keep at your faithful work, From taking challenges for the Lord, never shirk, Magnificent crowns await as you travel Heavenward So for the Lord be always inspired to put your best foot forward.
Suresh Manoharan
http://www.jandsmministries.com
(To access the entire “The Crowning Glory” mini-series, please click here.)