There are five heavenly crowns mentioned in the New Testament that will be awarded to believers. The imperishable crown, the crown of rejoicing, the crown of righteousness, the crown of glory, and the crown of life.
Over the last two days we looked at the imperishable crown, one that does not fade away and the crown of rejoicing, an eternity of bountiful blessings our gracious God has showered upon us.
Today we look at The Crown of Righteousness found in 2 Timothy 4:8 “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.”
We inherit this crown through the righteousness of Christ which is what gives us a right to it, and without which it cannot be obtained. Because it is obtained and possessed in a righteous way, and not by force and deceit as earthly crowns sometimes are, it is an everlasting crown, promised to all who love the Lord and eagerly wait for His return.
Through our enduring the discouragements, persecutions, sufferings, or even death, we know assuredly our reward is with Christ in eternity. This crown cannot be earned on our own and is not for those who depend upon their own sense of righteousness or of their own works. Such an attitude breeds only arrogance and pride, not a longing, a fervent desire to be with the Lord. We receive the crown of righteousness only through a relationship with THE RIGHTEOUS ONE-Jesus Christ.
Your pastor and partner in ministry,
Kyle
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