2 Tim 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.
Lately as a Pastor I have been meditating, thinking, and teaching on who we are in Christ. You can do a Bible Study on how Paul uses the term “in Christ” and see all the blessings a believer possess. In his letter to Timothy Paul points out that certain things will take place in our future as believers. Jesus will righteously judge…for the first time we will see what our lives were truly all about here on earth and how we spent our time. It is possible that we will be given a “crown of righteousness”. This is indeed befitting as in Revelation chapter 1 we are told that by the shed blood of Jesus we have been made “kings and priests” to God. But notice the qualification for this crown…. “to all who have longed for his appearing”. As Christians do we look forward to Heaven? Do we look forward to meeting Jesus? Do we long to be with Him who loves us so much he was willing to be crucified and take our sins upon Himself? Or are we so mired in the cares, worries, even our passing pleasures here on earth that we lose sight of our heavenly future? As you go through your day, contemplate that if you are born again, you are already a king and priest to God, get excited, be joyful, cast your anxieties onto Jesus, and long for his appearing….And someday you will indeed wear that crown through eternity!
