“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.”
2 Corinthians 5:10
Adults pooh-pooh the idea of rewards in heaven, but children don’t. Like a student before his teacher, a child squirms in delight at the anticipation of a reward, much less a jeweled crown of his very own. Maybe that’s why Jesus said that children were best fit for the kingdom of heaven.
The kid in me would love, just love a crown in heaven. What’s the big deal about crowns? The Bible celebrates the crowning day in 2 Corinthians 5:10 and goes on to mention specific crowns.
The crown of life mentioned in James 1:12 is reserved for those who persevere under trials and withstand God’s tests. The crown of rejoicing in 1 Thessalonians 2:19 is a reward for believers who introduce others to Christ. The incorruptible crown in 1 Corinthians 9:25 is for those who are found to be pure and blameless on the judgment day. And in 1 Peter 5:2-4 there’s a special crown reserved for Christian leaders who have guided others – it even says that the Chief Shepherd Himself will present that crown.
But the child in me jumps up and down to think that I might be rewarded the crown talked about in 2 Timothy 4:8: “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.”
Heavenly crowns are not just rewards for a job well done on earth; crowns are a glorious consummation of the job itself.
How I love to hear You say, Lord, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” What a reward that will be.
