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Heavenly Crowns
FOUNDER,
PREACH IT, TEACH IT
Dear Roger,I have a question about what has been termed to be "earning my crown." My husband and I want to hear your explanation of what earning "jewels in the crown" means. My parents have told me that by doing good works on earth they are earning jewels in their crowns and they will receive a greater reward in heaven. It seems to us that when we go to some kind of a "system" to be rewarded in heaven, that’s defeating the purpose, and is almost Pharisaical. If we choose to do things saying we are doing that act to glorify God in order to get a reward...to me it smacks of religion, rather than relationship with the Lord. Can you enlighten us?
–Kathi
Dear Kathi,
Should
a Christian Work for Rewards?
A resounding “yes!”
Please look up and
digest 2 Corinthians 3:10-15 where Paul describes Jesus’ process for determining how
well or how poorly we spent our lives on earth.
The more profitable our
lives, the more rewards we earn, the greater will be the position that we will
have in heaven. Some Christians will be disappointed.
The
Soul Winner’s Crown of Evangelism
“For
what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence
of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you?” (1 Thessalonians 2:19)
A person’s greatest glory
lies in those whom he/she has helped on the path to Christ.
Jim Tosh was the first
person I helped on the path to Christ. I was seven years old and very excited
about my faith. He was in the fourth grade and I was in the second.
We were on the playground
at school when I told him about the little lost lamb that Jesus talked about
that needed a Savior.
I told Jim that he was a
lost sheep who needed to be found. He became a Christian right then and there.
We were baptized together
three weeks later. Nine years after that he rounded a curve too fast and his
“new” first car was totaled.
His head hit the
rear-view mirror and instantly he transitioned into Heaven’s glory. We were
good friends, but I wished that he’d stayed around a little longer. I’m so glad
that I talked to him about Jesus.
By the way, many surveys
taken over the years declare that 98% of all Christians have never experienced
the joy of leading a single person to Christ.
“Will there be any stars
in my crown?” is an
old hymn that has transcended generations. The melody has changed often.
The idea is that we
receive the soul-winners crown when we first lead somebody to Christ as Lord
and Savior. Every time we lead another person to Christ, a star is attached to
our crown!
The
Pastor’s Crown of Glory
“And
when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will
never fade away” (1 Peter 5:4)
Remember
that Jesus called his disciples to be “fishers of men.”
But don’t forget that
when Jesus restored Peter to fellowship in John 21, he made it quite clear that while Peter was
still to fish for fish; Peter was to shepherd Jesus’ lambs and sheep.
We follow in the
footsteps of Jesus. He was the chief Shepherd. We are shepherds, too.
Any
Christian who has led someone to know Christ, knows what a thrill it is to
point to some person who has done well, and be able to say, “That was one of
my boys/girls.”
John
wrote, “I have no greater joy to hear than that my children walk in truth” (3 John 4).
This crown is reserved
for those who care for, mentor, and help mature Christ’s spiritual children and
into spiritual mothers and fathers.
You don’t have to be a
pastor to earn this crown. Any Bible study
leader or teacher is qualified to receive this crown.
The
Eternal Crown of Self-Discipline
“Everyone
who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown
that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever” (1 Corinthians 9:25)
The righteous live lives
that are holy and pure. In every issue of life they want to do what is right.
Paul insists that
Christians who wanted to take the easy way would never get anywhere without the
sternest of self-discipline.
Paul was always
fascinated by the picture of the athlete. An athlete must train with intensity
to win his contest.
Self-discipline is
training to win a crown of laurel leaves that wither and die within days. How
much more should the Christian be self-disciplined to win the crown that is
eternal life!
I recall driving one day
and seeing a man playing golf. It just so happened that I passed that way again
next week. Rain was pounding down in horizontal sheets. However, there he was,
still playing golf in the raging rain.
That is dedicated
self-discipline. May God grant us the self-control to be much more dedicated to
Christ than he was to golf.
The
Crown of Rejoicing: The Loving Anticipation of the Second Coming
“Now
there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the
Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but
also to all who have longed for his appearing" (2 Timothy 4:8)
I can hardly wait for the
second coming of Jesus. My wife and I argue about just when that might occur.
She says that Jesus will come before the seven years of tribulation on earth.
I say that he will come
right at the middle of the tribulation when Jesus opens the seven seals, the
angels blow seven trumpets, and God pours out his seven bowls of wrath upon the
earth.
I finally decided to pray
for the second coming her way. Jesus will come at the beginning of the
seven-year tribulation so that we could hold hands heading up to heaven at the
rapture.
Remember, live as if
Jesus were coming in the next 10 minutes. But plan as if He were not coming for
another 100 years.
Victor’s
Crown of Righteousness
“Similarly,
anyone who competes as an athlete does not receive the victor’s crown except
by competing according to the rules” (2 Timothy 2:5)
Paul says in Ephesians 6:10-17 that not only will Jesus give us the victor’s crown
because of our godly living on earth, he gives us the crown of righteousness to
use as protection from the attacks of the devil.
It is
important to pray daily that every decision we make will be right. One of our
church businessmen said to his employees, “If we get half of our decisions
correct, we’ve done well.”
I think that we all can
do better than that. We have the Holy Spirit within to guide us.
When our church property
ran out of parking spaces, I decided the church should buy the surrounding
houses for more space.
Many of the neighbors
worked hard to stymie our attempt. We ended up before the city zoning
commission and made our appeal. Many angry homeowners fought us and won. I was
so humiliated, but rightly so.
One of
the zoning commissioners said, “You’d think that a church could get along
better with its neighbors, after all doesn’t the Bible say, ‘Thou shalt not
covet thy neighbor’s house?’”
That was one of the worst
decisions that I ever made.
The
Martyr’s Crown
“Do
not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put
some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten
days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your
victor’s crown" (Revelation 2:10)
The band “DC Talk” published
a contemporary collection of Christian martyrs and persecutions around the
world. More Christians are being persecuted and martyred today than at any
other time in world history.
During the Chinese
Cultural Revolution, one Christian observed an act of martyrdom that she later
repeated.
From her cell window, she
saw two young Christian women kneeling before their pastor. He was told to
shoot both girls or he himself would be shot. He hesitated.
One of the girls said, “It’s
okay pastor. We know you are in a rough position. We understand if you shoot.
After all, we will be going to heaven!”
In a moment of great
weakness their pastor pulled the trigger twice. Both girls slumped dead. But
the ordeal was not finished. Once again, the gun fired. The pastor was shot
anyway.
The
Victor’s Crown of Perseverance
“I
am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your
crown” (Revelation 3:11)
Remember, the real test
is not how we start, but how we finish.
“Blessed
is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that
person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who
love him” (James 1:12)
“Therefore,
my brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand
firm in the Lord in this way, dear friends!” (Philippians 4:1)
Demas is mentioned three
times in the New Testament:
“Demas and
Luke, my fellow workers” (Philemon 1:24).
“Luke,
the doctor, and Demas send greetings" (Colossians 4:14)
“For
Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to
Thessalonica” (2 Timothy 4:10)
Notice the downward flow:
he is working closely with Paul; then, he is mentioned with no appellation.
Finally, he has deserted Paul.
Three points on a graph
describe his downward spiral away from Jesus! He started well, but ended
poorly.
We find it easy to love
this present age. We make fine beginnings, but then some comfortable corner of
this present age invites us, and our Christian profession lapses, and our faith
grows formal, and we do not amount to much in the end as Christians.
If I should accuse some
of us of being Judas, we would be indignant. But Demas – how many of us have
been that!
Why did you do it, Demas?
The answer: He loved this present age. Rome was so appealing. So many worthy
activities he desired. Such power. Such opportunity. He couldn’t resist.
However, of all the
surprises in history, can we think of anything more surprising, with Nero on
his throne and Paul in his prison, that the gospel for which Paul stood would
outlast the Roman Empire?
The person who has faith
in God expects that to happen. So, even if it takes a lifetime, he carries on.
So, we name our dogs Nero
and our children Paul.
Staying power is commonly
associated with profound resources of interior strength that replenish our
faith.
Whenever the living
creatures give glory, honor, and thanks to him who sits on the throne they lay
their crowns before the throne and say:
“You
are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you
created all things, and by your will they were created and have their
being” (Revelation 4:11)
“Therefore
God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every
name that the name of Jesus every knee should bow in heaven and on earth and
under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the
glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:9-11).
So why should we work to
earn heavenly crowns? Because we will lay them at Jesus’ feet!
Kathi, I hope this helps
to answer your question.
Love, Roger
Dr. Roger Barrier, founder of Preach It, Teach It, is a well-known
author and sought-after conference speaker. Roger has taught thousands of
pastors, missionaries, and Christian leaders in 32 countries worldwide.
He is the featured pastor of
"Ask Roger: Ask a Pastor" on Crosswalk.com, the largest Christian
website in the country. He partnered with Intimate Life Ministries and also
regularly teaches national leaders for CRU and various other mission
organizations. Dr. Barrier began preaching at the age of 13, and he shares his
3,000+ sermons with you on Preach It, Teach It. Preach It, Teach It currently
has eight million visits in 221 countries and territories.
His compelling teaching style
is one-of-a-kind, combining a solid Biblical foundation with culturally
relevant application, engaging illustrations, and astute scholarship. Casas
Church is where Roger has served throughout his thirty-seven-year career, is a
megachurch known for a well-integrated, multi-generational ministry. The value
of including new generations is deeply ingrained throughout Casas to help the
church move strongly right through the twenty-first century and beyond.
Dr. Barrier holds degrees from
Baylor University, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and Golden Gate
Seminary in Greek, religion, theology, and pastoral care. He was recently
honored as distinguished alumni by Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary.
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