WEDNESDAY July 1st
Revelation 5 – CROWNS – Part 2
We continue from yesterday:
Paul often uses language that speaks of us running a race, reaching the finishing line and winning the prize, (see Galatians 2:2, Philippians 2:16, 2 Timothy 2:5, 4:7) the Hebrew writer encourages us in the same way in Hebrews 12:1-2 ‘Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.’
I have written a lot over the last two devotions to get to this point which is a question? What is going to happen to our crowns?
I cannot recall that I have ever competed in anything to have won and been presented with a crown, trophy, laurel or wreath, but if I had I would have made sure it was somewhere up on display! I have won some competitions, won a few prizes but never had a memento to display, other than perhaps a certificate.
What is my answer to the question, what is going to happen with the crowns? because one thing is for sure we will not have a cabinet to display them in in heaven? I think that the answer (and it is my own personal view) lies in Revelation chapter 4.
In verse 4 we read ‘Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and seated on the thrones were twenty-four elders, clothed in white garments, with golden crowns on their heads.’
Notice, they had their crowns on their heads, but they then did something with them, we see this in verse 10-11 ‘the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honour and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.’
They cast their crowns at the feet of the Lord Jesus! In other words, in heaven it will all be about what it should all be about here on earth – all about Jesus! All the praise, honour, glory, worship, adoration goes to him because without him we would still be lost, still in our sin, it is only because of his redeeming grace that we can be who we are and what we are. And it will only be because of his redeeming grace that we will be found around the throne! Everything we receive, including our crowns, will be cast at his feet so that all the glory goes to him.
1 Corinthians 1:26-31 ‘For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.’
Revelation 5:12-14 ‘Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honour and glory and blessing! And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honour and glory and might forever and ever! And the four living creatures said, Amen! and the elders fell down and worshiped.’
Now, if we are going to cast our crowns at the feet of Jesus, we could be sceptical and say then why bother to get them? Well, this one thing is sure, when I get into the presence of Jesus, I do not want to appear empty handed, that would be a sign of spiritual laziness, I need to do something here on earth to be able to cast something before him in heaven!
Charles Wesley sums it up for us in the last verses of this hymn, ‘till we cast our crowns before thee.’
Love divine, all loves excelling,
Joy of Heav’n to earth come down,
Fix in us thy humble dwelling,
All thy faithful mercies crown!
Jesus, thou art all compassion,
Pure unbounded love thou art,
Visit us with thy salvation,
Enter every trembling heart.
Breathe, O breathe thy loving Spirit,
Into every troubled breast!
Let us all in thee inherit,
Let us find that second rest.
Take away our bent to sinning,
Alpha and Omega be,
End of faith, as its beginning,
Set our hearts at liberty.
Come, Almighty to deliver,
Let us all thy life receive,
Suddenly return and never,
Never more thy temples leave.
Thee we would be always blessing,
Serve thee as thy hosts above,
Pray and praise thee without ceasing,
Glory in thy perfect love.
Finish, then, thy new creation,
Pure and spotless let us be.
Let us see thy great salvation
Perfectly restored in thee,
Changed from glory into glory,
Till in Heav’n we take our place,
Till we cast our crowns before thee,
Lost in wonder, love, and praise.
Charles Wesley CCLI788682