In titling todays message “There is no Crown without Crosses”, I would like for you to reflect on how the promises of God is His ultimate design for us that comes at a price. It is important to know that while we suffer on this earth, there is an eternal hope setup for us who believe in Christ. Even though we travel through life’s turmoil’s and tragedies, we are being prepared for His work, even beyond our recognition. “in the future there is reserved 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 loved His appearing.”
Experiencing the burden of a cross should resemble Christ’s suffering, not necessarily to the extreme, but as He bore the cross for us, we too bear the cross as His followers. Just as Christ was persecuted and rejected, so shall we be. Matthew 5 “Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in this same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Think on this, what happens when we boil a carrot, it become soft. What happens when we boil tea leaves? You are rewarded with great flavor and sweet aromas. Like us, It takes pressure to ultimately create something magnificent and rewarding.
Let us begin our journey with the reading of 2 Timothy Chapter 2, “You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful people who will be able to teach others also. 3 Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him. 5 And if someone likewise competes as an athlete, he is not crowned as victor unless he competes according to the rules. 6 The hard-working farmer ought to be the first to receive his share of the crops. 7 Consider what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.”
In starting off this chapter, we see Paul telling Timothy to not only be a witness of Christ, but endure like Christ, in all things. And in order for this to happen, Christ will give us understanding in everything we need to do. Notice in verse 4 “No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him.” While we deal with everyday life, we are still in Gods Holy Army! We are to serve Him and Him alone. We suffer for Christs sake, and our reward is the crown of righteousness. 1 Timothy tells us “We both labor and suffer reproach,” why? Because we trust in the living God (1 Tim. 4:10).
In reflecting upon our crosses while on earth, there are a few aspects I would like you to take note of. There is the logical basis on our service to God with courage. Romans 1 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.” What we learn of God in word and deed, we learn from His spirit that dwells in us.
Then we discover that with suffering and courage, we develop endurance, “Therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Christ…I endure all things for the Christs sake”. Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised. For yet in a very little while, He who is coming will come, and will not delay. When we earnestly seek Christ, accept him with our whole heart as Lord and Savior, the crosses we bear in this life will be replaced with a crown of righteousness, GLORY HALLELUJAH! We put off the old us, and bestow the new! Old things has passed away and behold all things become new. We learn that bearing the crosses of life we gain an eternity in Heaven with God. We will lay down our working tools here on earth, to receive everlasting life.
Be not mistaken friends, although our reward is ultimately in heaven, we do gain reward here in earth. As we grow with Christ, our lives become complete, whole and fruitful. We see and feel God work in our lives. Satan told God in the book of Job, “Have you not surrounded him and his family and all that he has with your protection? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his livestock are spread over the land.” Yes God did! Everything we have belongs to God, even us! When we walk in Gods spirit, we receive His blessing. But, as we walk the narrow path of God, we still must bear our crosses, but now, we do it with God strength, not our own. My strength is made perfect in weakness.
There are many examples of people in the Bible that God has blessed in his service. In Genesis, “The Lord was with Joseph, and he was a successful man.” King David, But for David's sake the LORD his God gave him a lamp in Jerusalem, to raise up his son after him and to establish Jerusalem; 5 because David did what was right in the sight of the LORD, and had not turned aside from anything that He commanded him all the days of his life. Abraham, God also said to him, “I am God Almighty; Be fruitful and multiply; A nation and a company of nations shall come from you, And kings shall come forth from you. In the story of Jonah, God blesses and entire city of Ninevah after confessing their sins to God by way of the prophet Jonah. And so many more!
Then, our risen savior comes into the picture, to take full atonement for all our sins, even us who are not deserving of Gods grace. Hear what Titus 3 tells us, For we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another. 4 But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, 5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. Are you starting to see the picture here? Regardless of what fiery dart is thrown at us each and every day, we can rest assured the armor of God we bear everyday will protect us, and we will ultimately win the battle. Our faith and trust continues to grow even while carrying the crosses we bear.
Let us be reminded that when Moses was in front of Pharoah, most powerful ruler on earth at that time, did God not deliver him and all of his people from slavery? Did not God deliver Shadrack, Meshack and Abednego from the furnace that was seven times hotter than normal! What God has done and continues to do for fellow Christians, he can do and will do for us, if it is in His will! In every phase of our lives, God is there. Its like giving us basic training, while we endure hardships we then learn more and more of God and more about ourselves.
And let me say this. Being a good soldier of Christ does NOT mean you will never fall, experience fear or feel pain. To be a good soldier in Christ is for us to always be ready, prepared for what ever life throws at us with Christ in us, and most importantly, Trust in Him through it all. We are never ever to be stagnant, always learning God even in our older age. Yesterdays battle skills may actually not be so effective in tomorrows! We keep growing in Christ. Learning the devils new tactics.
Then there is the aspect of experiencing the crosses we bear as it will never be enough! Isaiah 64, “For all of us have become like one who is unclean, And all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment; And all of us wither like a leaf, And our wrongdoings, like the wind, take us away.”
Our best intentions to win for Christ is useless unless we too bear the cross. Jesus tells us in Mark, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me.” No exceptions!
In closing I ask you today to reflect and respond to the crown we will have and the crosses we will carry in life. And as a Good soldier, we must be ready to endure hardships. Like and athlete, we must keep to the rules. Like a farmer, we must work hard if we are to get results.
When things go wrong, as they sometimes will, When the road you're trudging seems all uphill, When the funds are low and the debts are high,
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh, When care is pressing you down a bit, Rest, if you must, but don't you quit. Life is queer with its twists and turns, As every one of us sometimes learns, And many a failure turns about, When he might have won had he stuck it out; Don't give up though the pace seems slow, You may succeed with another blow. Often the goal is nearer than, It seems to a faint and faltering man, Often the struggler has given up, When he might have captured the victor's cup, And he learned too late when the night slipped down, How close he was to the golden crown. Success is failure turned inside out, The silver tint of the clouds of doubt, And you never can tell how close you are, It may be near when it seems so far, So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit, It's when things seem worst that you must not quit.—Anonymous