A CROWN
by Barbara Chadwick
“Your tooth has three cracks in it. It needs a crown.”
“What will a crown do?”“It will cover the cracks so that nothing can damage the root.”
As the dentist went into an extensive explanation of what
would be involved my mind went to grace. You know, this is just what God’s grace
does for us. It covers our sin. It is a crown of righteousness. It makes us acceptable to God. We are kept in his love.
The difference, of course, is huge. The crown the dentist
would put on top of my tooth would cost over $2,000 and might not last ‘til I
die. The crown of righteousness that Christ gives is offered for free. We just
have to accept it. But it is infinitely more valuable.
The sermon by Thomas Watson, delivered at the funeral of
Thomas Hodges May 1, 1656, tells of the “Crown of Righteousness” in a glorious
way. The following are excerpts from it. I urge you to read the entire sermon
at www.gracegems.org
2Timothy 4:7-8 (KJV) 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.
He had finished his course, and from henceforth, he said,
there was laid up a crown. He knew his work was done, and there was nothing now
remaining but to step out of the world—and put on his crown! "There is
laid up for me a crown of righteousness." As soon as a man is
implanted into Christ, he stands entitled to a crown. Here is the crown of
acceptance; and in the life to come a crown of righteousness.
Why a crown of righteousness? It is a crown of mercy—a
crown which free grace bestows. Why, then, is it called a crown of
righteousness?
1. Negatively, not that we can, by our righteousness,
merit this crown.
2. Affirmatively, it is called a crown of
righteousness in a double sense. First, because it is a crown promised.
Revelation 2:10: "I will give you a crown." Since God made this
promise, it is a righteous thing to bestow this crown on us.
It is a crown of righteousness because it is a crown purchased.
It is a crown bought with the price of blood! This crown swims to us through
the blood of a Savior! When Christ was hanging upon the cross, He was
purchasing a crown for us!
3. This crown is said to be, laid up. "He does not presently install us into our honor. It
is a crown laid up. The saints are heirs under age. God does not crown
them until they are of age - laid up."
WHY is it laid
up? Why is not the crown presently put on?
It is not fit that we should yet wear it for two reasons:
1. Our graces are imperfect in this life.
2. We must run the race—before we wear the crown.
3. The crown is laid up to make heaven sweeter.
There is a righteousness by implantation.
The one is by the merit of Christ, the other is by the Spirit of Christ. Now
this implanted righteousness is in the soul, as an intrinsic quality;
…Righteousness must be in the soul extensively, in every part….Therefore grace is called "the new man," not a new eye or a new tongue—but a new man.
Righteousness must be in the soul intensively….He is
not said to be righteous who is tepid and neutral in religion…
Righteousness must be
in the soul perseveringly. It must abide and continue… There is a great
deal of difference between the motion of a watch—and the beating of a pulse.
The one is quickly at an end—but the other, proceeding from a vital principle,
is permanent and constant. As long as there is life—the pulse beats. True
righteousness is a spiritual pulse—which will ever be beating.
A
crown is RESPLENDENT. The royal crown, hung with jewels, is a splendid,
magnificent thing. Thus the crown of righteousness is most radiant and
illustrious. For the splendor of it, it is called a crown of glory (1
Peter 5:4). It must be glorious because it is a crown of God's own making. Sin
has made us our crosses; God has made us our crown.
A
crown is a WEIGHTY thing. So is the
crown of righteousness. Therefore it is called a weight of glory by the
Apostle. We think our sufferings are weighty; alas, they are light—in
comparison with our crown. This crown of righteousness is so weighty that it
would soon overwhelm us—if God did not make us able to bear it.
A
crown is an HONORABLE thing. "You crown him with honor"
(Psalm 8:5). What a great honor it was to wear the Olympic crown, to which the
Apostle here seems to allude. A crown is a badge and sign of imperial honor. So
this crown of righteousness is the sign of royalty and excellence.
Only those who are born of God and have the royal blood of heaven running in
their souls, wear this blessed crown.
If
there is a crown laid up, it calls for our LOVE toward God. "Behold what manner of love the Father has
bestowed upon us" to give us a crown. This is the highest ennobling of a
creature. If there is love in a crumb, what is there in a crown! If
there is love in pardoning mercy, what is there in crowning mercy…
It is beyond all hyperbole. And should this not make our hearts reverberate and
echo back love? Oh, Christians! Light your love at this fire! God having shone
upon us in love, let our hearts burn in love to Him!
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