2022-07-01
Good Morning Dear Ones,
You will remember that the Holy Spirit has commanded me to write about the seven (God’s perfect number) crowns: life; separation; protection; incorruptibility; righteousness; glory; exultation. A crown is different than a royal diadem, the ornament worn on the head of a human, worn as a sign of royalty. For example, back in 1952, Queen Elizabeth II of Britain was elevated from a royal princess to queen upon the death of her father, King George VI. On the first week of June 2022, she celebrated her 70th jubilee for serving her country for that many years. This was the culmination of keeping a promise she made at age 26 that she would spend the rest of her physical life serving the British people. Now at age 96, she has done so with distinction. When God eventually calls this queen home to Him, she will be eligible for the crowns God has to offer, crowns which are even more important than her diadem ever could be. Those crowns are available to all believers. That is because, God judges each of us on His same fair and equitable standards. Queen Elizabeth II is also the head of the church of England, a role no less important to her than the authority to represent her country in good causes.
As important to Queen Elizabeth or any other world ruler are the crowns God decides we deserve after our physical death. Oftentimes, it must be said that God’s crowns are eternal. A crown is authority given to an individual who has lived his or her earthly life with obedient faithfulness in God’s sight. This is quite different than a hereditary or human-elected position, which stops at the end of one’s physical life or his term of office. It is eternal in its nature and origin. Jesus says, in MT 28: 18-20, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
So, let’s look at where the term “crown of life” is mentioned in the Scriptures. JAS 1: 12, “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.” REV 2:10, “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.” And who receives the crown of life? It is anyone who lives following the teaching of the Scriptures, whether Jew or Gentile. Christ came so that the plan of salvation laid out for the Jews could also be extended to believing Gentiles. It is God’s will that we should be “a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of Him Who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light” [1 PET 2: 9]. As for the Scriptures, the Lord speaks through Paul in 2 TIM 3: 16-17, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” It is God’s will that we should follow His commandments and love one another; His commandments are not burdensome. Everyone who loves God overcomes the world. This is the victory that we win by living our faith and earning God’s crown of life [1 JN 5: 2-4]. We must bear in mind that God loves us so much that He sent His Son, Jesus, to give His life on the cross, so that all who believe in Him can receive salvation [JN 3: 16], justification [RO 4: 3], and eternal forgiveness [1 JN 1: 9]. He is near to us, shares the wealth of His wisdom, and lifts us up when our lives are challenged.
PRAYER: O Lord, You have made it possible for ordinary people to become the holders of the eternal crown of life. You open Your wisdom to us and give it as a free gift of Your grace [EPH 2: 8-10]. Our lives don’t have to be hopeless, lacking in significance, or without meaning. As we learn from the Bible, Your “Love Letter” to us, even the least of us can be found and richly blessed by You in intangible ways that have nothing to do with the material trappings held so desirable by humans. Your ways are eternal; human-crafted gifts are ephemeral and can’t transcend time. We thank and praise You with all our hearts for all You do and all You are. We reach out to You and honor You, in the holy/mighty name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
NEXT WEEK: I am commanded to continue writing about God’s seven crowns, things that are eternal and beneficial gifts given by God in heaven. There have been times of great pain and sorrow in my own earthly life, and yet, the Lord has given me sufficient faith to realize He never makes a decision or takes an action that is mean-spirited or evil. In 1 JN 1: 5, the apostle John writes, “This is the message we have heard from Him and declare to you: God is Light; in Him there is no darkness at all. Furthermore, in 1 JN 1: 7, “But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin.” The last thing we want to do is to entrap ourselves in a web of lies, so that we can’t bask in His light eternally, and thus experience spiritual death. My own experience is that when we are entangled in the bottom of a slimy pit, crying to Him for rescue and relief, He will hear our cries and lift us out of that pit, out of the mud and mire. In doing this, He will set our feet on a secure place-a Rock (which is faith in His Son) and give us a new hymn of praise to God [PS 40: 1-3].
Grace Be With You Always,
Lynn, JS 24: 15
© Lynn Johnson 2022. All Rights Reserved.
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