Have you ever taken a step back and examined your Spiritual life?
Am I doing the things that the Lord has asked me to do? Do I believe His Word? Am I forgiving all of those that have trespassed against me? Am I repenting? Am I spreading the Gospel?
Am I being a good Ambassador?
Am I running the race that the Lord has put out in front of me? Am I fighting the good fight?
Am I keeping the faith?
Sometimes we forget that we’re in a life-or-death situation. I think we forget that death for all of us is just around the corner. That this life will sometime for every single one of us come to an end. We prepare a lot for life.
What our careers are going to be. Who we are going to marry.
But have you ever thought about how you are going to serve the Lord?
Have you ever considered or thought about the Crown you will receive?
There is a Crown for those that can step from the flesh and not fall into the temptations of this world and not allow the pain and suffering to overtake them and turn on the grace they have found in Jesus!
And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write, ‘These things says the First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life: “I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich); and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.
Revelation 2:8-10 NKJV
The Church of Syrma was tested and they passed.
Testing will quickly show the Lord exactly where your heart is!
What’s being tested?
Our faith, our dedication, our love. Everything that has to do with the Salvation through Jesus will be tested. And every aspect of our lives will be used to test it. Family, friends, jobs, homes. Physical illness, mental anguish. Emotional turmoil. Everything the devil can manipulate he will. everything he can use to get us to turn from the Saving Grace we have in Jesus Christ he will do. And he has no shame ,no sympathy for any hurt or pain that we go through as long as he can separate us from the Lord!
The enemy will do it; he is relentless and no life is spared.
But those that endure and are faithful until death,
The Lord says ” I will give you the crown of life”.
Jesus gives this Crown to the Ones that understand.
We have the promise of a Crown .
Can you stay faithful even to the last breath? Until death. That no matter what comes our way we can trust in His Word and promises. That we can rely that He is a man of His Word. That even in the hard times He is with us to the end of the age!
In ancient Greece Any athlete that competed and won the race received a crown of leaves. That crown of leaves would wither, brown and die. It was worthless in a short time. Faded glory!
Jesus’ champions receive the Crown of Life!
This Crown never fades and never gets tarnished.
We have eternal life the moment we repent and confess that Jesus is the Son of the Living God. He was Crucified and rose from the dead. That it is only by His shed Blood that we are made Right in the sight of the Father. Because He is High and lifted up!
Don’t fear the things we are about to suffer. Stop being afraid. We have the promise of eternal life! As hard as it may seem right now,it’s only for a short time in comparison to eternity!
We are being warned. Not if but when. We will be tested.
Tests are given to see how well we know a subject. This concerns the subject of the Son of God and the Kingdom of God to come.
Not all trials and tribulations are bad. James says to count them all joy. Because If we endure to the end, with no compromise with total love for the Lord a Crown waits for us. The Crown of Eternal, Everlasting Life!
Praise the Lord!
There’s mercy in the waiting! There’s grace to cover us in every situation we face.
Depend on that mercy and grace that Jesus so willingly gives. The Cross of Christ speaks of the Victory . Endure to the end, don’t give up, don’t deny and stand firm in His Strength and His Love and receive your Crown of Life!
Pastor Ed