Goodmorning and welcome in everyone. Today, we are going to take a look at a passage of scripture, but before we do that, I wanted to tell you a little story.
The Crown Jewels in the tower of London, contain the two biggest cut diamonds on Earth, which came from the Cullinan Diamond. This diamond was a 3,106-carat gem found in South Africa on Jan 26, 1905. It was so huge that the inspector Thomas Wells thought it was a piece of glass, but it was a 1.33 pound colorless diamond. It was named after Sir Thomas Cullinan, the owner of the mine. In order to get the diamond safely to England, people spread false rumors that it was being shipped by boat while the truth was it was packed in a plain box, and sent by mail without any security at all. The diamond was so hard that the steel blade that Joseph Asscher used broke, without even scratching the diamond, but he finally succeeded later. Apparently it was King George VII who had the Royal scepter redesigned with the star of Africa as its centerpiece.
This reminds me of the Christian Life
When we think of a crown, we must always consider the crown that awaits those who serve Christ faithfully while here upon the Earth. While it’s clear from scripture that earthly crowns and scepters are only temporary, we wait for an everlasting crown that will never fade away.
2 Timothy 4:7-8 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
Eventually, the Earth and everything in it will be gone. This is why we need to focus our hearts and minds on attaining a heavenly crown and the reward of eternal inheritance.
2 Peter 3:10-13 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
The Christian Life is very similar to a race that we are running each day. In a marathon, or even in the Olympics there’s a prize awaiting those who compete. In order to obtain the trophy, you have to stay in the race. There are numerous crowns upon the Earth, but we wait for the crown from Christ, which is eternal and incorruptible.
1 Corinthians 9:25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
The apostles and disciples of the Lord preached God’s Word to the people. Those who faithfully feed the flock of God are going to receive a crown.
1 Peter 5:1-4 The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.
The Apostle Paul learned to forget the past, just as God forgives and forgets our past. His complete attention was focused on the path in front of him, striving each day to obtain the prize.
Philippians 3:13-14 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
The Christian life is about overcoming temptation. Doing so shows that we love the Lord more than the world.
James 1:12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
Love is a very strong emotion and you want to make sure that it isn’t placed on the things of this world, but focused completely on our Lord Jesus.
1 John 2:15-17 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
In order to obtain the prize of eternal life, we need to do God’s will from our heart. It is the proof of our love towards Him.
Colossians 3:24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.
We want to please God completely, knowing that He will reward us. When we seek Him secretly in the privacy of our closets, praying, fasting or giving alms, God sees our faith and rewards our diligent hearts.
Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Moses was filled with huge faith, and turned away from all the treasures that Egypt could offer him, so that eventually he could attain a heavenly reward.
Hebrews 11:26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.
When you compete in this race, you need to compete to win.
1 Corinthians 9:24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.
We need to be faithful towards the Lord, and He will give us a crown of Life.
Revelation 2:10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.
The faithful in Christ Jesus will someday be able to receive an everlasting crown, and we must seek after the riches that will never fade away, unlike…..
……..The Cullinan Diamond
Let’s think about these things for right now. We can be found on your web browser by searching, tlkjbc where you can find our diaries distributed through various platforms. We are not associated, nor affiliated with any other religious groups. You can get our entire podcast feeds directly, along with transcripts at tlkjbc.com or I suppose that you could find us somewhere up here, in the Great Northern Minnesota woods. Peace to you all, and Lord willing, we will talk with you some more tomorrow. Till then, bye bye everybody.
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