2025-08-11
Revelation 2:10 NKJV
The fourth crown is the crown of life. Two different verses depict it for us. “Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him” (James 1:12 NKJV). “Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.”
A pastor explains it this way: “The Crown of Life is given in recognition of enduring and triumphing over temptations and trials, even to the point of martyrdom. Motivated by our love for Christ, we persevere and never quit until He takes us home… Almost every New Testament book was written to believers who lived in danger of martyrdom. The apostles counselled them to persevere so they could inherit the Crown of Life.”
Today we are living in one of the most intense periods of persecution in the history of the church. Open Doors, an organization that monitors persecution, reports on the top fifty nations where Christians face the most severe persecution. In 2017, they said trends are getting worse every year, and that “one hundred percent of Christians in twenty-one countries around the world experience persecution for their faith in Christ, and more than 215 million Christians face ‘high levels’ of persecution. Nearly one in every twelve Christians today lives in an area or culture in which Christianity is illegal, forbidden, or punished.”
The Bible says, “All who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution” (2 Timothy 3:12 NKJV). But the good news is that it gives each of us a marvellous opportunity to lay claim to the crown of life.
Soul food: Judg 7:1-9:33; Matt 16:13-28; Ps 119:65-72; Pro 17:23-26
Openbaring 2:10 NLV
Die vierde kroon is die kroon van die lewe. Twee verskillende verse maak melding daarvan: ‘Geseënd is die man wat versoeking verdra, want as hy beproef word, sal hy die kroon van die lewe ontvang wat die Here beloof het aan die wat Hom liefhet’ (Jakobus 1:12 KAB23). ‘…Wees net getrou tot die dood toe, en Ek sal aan julle die kroon van die lewe gee.’
‘n Pastoor verduidelik dit as volg: ‘Die kroon van die lewe word gegee in erkenning aan die volharding en oorwinning oor versoeking en beproewing, selfs tot die punt van martelaarskap. Ons word deur ons liefde vir Christus gemotiveer en ons volhard en gee nooit op nie totdat Hy ons huis toe neem. Byna elke boek in die Nuwe Testament is aan gelowiges, wat in gevaar van martelaarskap geleef het, geskryf. Die apostels het hulle aangeraai om te volhard sodat hulle die kroon van die lewe kan ontvang.’
Deesdae leef ons in een van die intenste tydperke van vervolging in die geskiedenis van die kerk. Geopende Deure, ‘n organisasie wat vervolging monitor, het in 2017 berig dat vervolging elke jaar erger word, dat honderd persent van Christene in een-en-twintig lande regoor die wêreld vervolging as gevolg van hul geloof in Christus ervaar en meer as 215 miljoen Christene ‘hoë vlakke’ van vervolging in die gesig staar. Byna een uit elke twaalf Christene woon deesdae in ‘n land of kultuur waarin Christenskap onwettig of verbode is en waar dit gestraf word.
Die Bybel sê: ‘Ja, en almal wat ‘n toegewyde lewe in Christus Jesus wil lei, sal vervolging te beurt val’ (2 Timoteus 3:12 NLV). Die goeie nuus is egter dat dit elkeen van ons ‘n wonderlike geleentheid gee om die kroon van die lewe op te eis.
Sielskos: Rig 7:1-9:33; Matt 16:13-28; Ps 119:65-72; Spr 17:23-26
2025-08-10
2 Timoteus 4:8 AFR53
Die derde kroon wat in die Skrif genoem word, is die kroon van geregtigheid. Paulus skryf: ‘Ek het die goeie stryd gestry; ek het die wedloop voleindig; ek het die geloof behou. Verder is vir my weggelê die kroon van die geregtigheid wat die Here, die regverdige Regter, my in dié dag sal gee; en nie aan my alleen nie, maar ook aan almal wat sy verskyning liefgehad het’ (verse 7-8 AFR83).
‘n Pastoor verduidelik dit as volg: ‘Die boek 2 Timoteus verteenwoordig die laaste bekende skrywe van die apostel Paulus. Ons het rede om te glo dat hy kort nadat hy hierdie woorde geskryf het, onthoof is. In plaas daarvan om die dood te vrees, het hy egter na die wederkoms uitgesien. Hy was met sy rekord van diens aan die Here tevrede. Paulus se gebruik van die metafoor van die atleet is veral beskrywend van die lewe van die gelowige, omdat dit uithouvermoë, dissipline en finale oorwinning beskryf. Die kroon van geregtigheid word vir diegene wat ‘n verlange na die Here Jesus het en wat wag vir Jesus om terug te kom, gereserveer.’
Paulus skryf in ‘n brief aan Titus dat ‘…die seën waarop ons hoop, ‘n werklikheid word. By daardie geleentheid sal die heerlikheid van ons groot God en Verlosser, Jesus Christus, ook sigbaar word’ (Titus 2:13 NLV). Die pastoor gaan voort: ‘Sielkundiges sê vir ons dat afwagting ‘n emosie met wonderlike genesende kragte is. Mense wat deur sneeu vasgevang is, hou moed deur die langer dae van lente en somer af te wag. Bruide en bruidegomme wag hulle troudag gretig af.’
As Christen lê jou beste dae nog voor jou en jy kan in afwagting van al die heerlikheid van die hemel en die ewigheid, leef. Dit sal jou motiveer om getrou aan Jesus te bly terwyl jy vir sy wederkoms wag.
Sielskos: Josh 2:1-24; Hand 9:20-30
2 Timothy 4:8 NKJV
The third crown mentioned in Scripture is the crown of righteousness. Paul writes: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord… will give to me on that Day, and… also to all who have loved His appearing” (vv. 7-8 NKJV).
A pastor amplifies this: “The book of 2 Timothy represents the last known writing of the apostle Paul, and we have reason to believe he was beheaded shortly after writing these words. But rather than dreading death, he was looking forward to the Second Coming. He was… content with his record of service for the Master. Paul’s use of the athletic metaphor here is especially descriptive of the life of the believer because it describes struggle, endurance, discipline, and final victory. The Crown of Righteousness is reserved for those who have a longing for the Lord Jesus and who watch for Jesus to come back.”
Writing to Titus, Paul speaks of “looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13 NKJV). The pastor continues: “Psychologists tell us that anticipation… is an emotion with marvellous healing powers. People who are snowbound sustain their spirits by anticipating the longer days of spring and summer. Couples… separated by military deployment stay sane by anticipating their reunion… Brides and grooms are eager for their wedding day.”
As a Christian, your best days are ahead of you, and you can anticipate all the glories of heaven and eternity. It should motivate you to be faithful to Jesus as you wait for His return.
Soul food: Josh 2:1-24; Acts 9:20-30
2025-08-09
1 Thessalonians 2:19 NLT
The second crown mentioned in Scripture is the crown of rejoicing. It’s given to those who take part in leading others to Christ. The background for this passage is written about in Acts 17, which tells the story of Paul arriving in the city of Thessalonica.
He went into the synagogue, “and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining… that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, ‘This Jesus whom I preach to you is the Christ'” (vv. 2-3 NKJV). Some of his hearers were converted, including a great multitude of devout Greeks and a number of prominent women. As a result, a church was built there. Writing to them later, Paul said that they would be his crown when Christ returned.
We should all follow Bill Bright’s example; he was one of the best soul winners of the twentieth century. And he once disclosed his secret: “Although I have shared Christ personally with many thousands of people through the years, I am a rather reserved person and I do not always find it easy to witness. But I have made this my practice, and I urge you to do the same: Assume that whenever you are alone with another person for more than a few moments, you are there by divine appointment to explain… the love and forgiveness he [or she] can know through faith in Jesus Christ.”
When was the last time you shared the gospel with someone? Whenever you do, the Lord is fitting you for a crown of rejoicing.
Soul food: Judg 4-6; Matt 16:1-12; Ps 119:57-64; Pro 17:22
