Winning The Crown
by Skip Heitzig |In thoroughbred horseracing, the most important prize is called the Triple Crown. That's a trio of races that includes the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness, and the Belmont Stakes. In the entire history of this series, dating back over 100 years, only eleven horses have won all three; the most recent was "Affirmed," 30 years ago. This year, a horse named "Big Brown" has won both the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness, and this weekend he will try to sweep the Triple Crown.
The Bible often uses the analogy of a crown to portray the reward we will receive as believers in Jesus Christ. In ancient times, winners of races were presented a "crown" of laurel leaves to signify their victory, and these leaves quickly withered. But the reward we receive from the Lord will be an everlasting one, so when the Bible writers wrote about our reward from the Lord, they used words like "imperishable" or "incorruptible."
As Paul wrote, "Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? ...Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown" (1 Corinthians 9:24-25). Likewise, the Apostle Peter referred to a "crown of glory that does not fade away" (see 1 Peter 5:4).
Remember, they aren't talking about our salvation, which was won by Jesus Christ on the cross, but about our reward for the things we do in this life in service to God. And God promises this reward to all of us when we leave this life. "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" (2 Timothy 4:8).
Even though only a few win prestigious awards like the Triple Crown or Olympic gold medals, as believers in Jesus Christ we can all obtain the imperishable crown of righteousness. How? By remaining in Christ, and allowing Him to do His work through us. Let's run the race well, so we can say, with Paul, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith" (2 Tim 4:7).
The Bible often uses the analogy of a crown to portray the reward we will receive as believers in Jesus Christ. In ancient times, winners of races were presented a "crown" of laurel leaves to signify their victory, and these leaves quickly withered. But the reward we receive from the Lord will be an everlasting one, so when the Bible writers wrote about our reward from the Lord, they used words like "imperishable" or "incorruptible."
As Paul wrote, "Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? ...Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown" (1 Corinthians 9:24-25). Likewise, the Apostle Peter referred to a "crown of glory that does not fade away" (see 1 Peter 5:4).
Remember, they aren't talking about our salvation, which was won by Jesus Christ on the cross, but about our reward for the things we do in this life in service to God. And God promises this reward to all of us when we leave this life. "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" (2 Timothy 4:8).
Even though only a few win prestigious awards like the Triple Crown or Olympic gold medals, as believers in Jesus Christ we can all obtain the imperishable crown of righteousness. How? By remaining in Christ, and allowing Him to do His work through us. Let's run the race well, so we can say, with Paul, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith" (2 Tim 4:7).
In His strong love,
Skip Heitzig
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