A
daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and
exhortation.
Monday,
October
18,
2021
On Saturday I drove Ester and the entire Lapp
family of nine up to to the Poconos to ride bikes on the
Delaware and Lehigh Valley Trail. We got an early start
due to the forecast of rain and high winds, but thankfully
it held off until we were almost finished in the mid
afternoon. This train is coming through a cut in Lehigh
Gorge State Park about 3 miles north of Jim Thorpe.
(Click on photo for larger image)
"The Crown That Lasts
Forever"
Listen
to this message on your audio player.
“Do you not
know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets
the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone
who competes in the games goes into strict training. They
do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to
get a crown that will last forever” (1 Corinthians
9:24,25). “Let us run with perseverance the race marked
out for us” (Hebrews 12:1).
My
parents named me after the only Stephen presented in the
Bible. Of course, based on that and many other
characteristics, he is one of my favorite Bible
characters. He was in the group of the first deacons
chosen in Acts 6 but is best known for his power-packed
sermon and subsequent stoning. When I feel like I'm
experiencing a tough day or think that life doesn't seem
fair I need to remember Stephen's life, and how God used
it to further the Gospel message through Stephen's most
ardent enemy and executioner, then known as Saul.
Stephen's
name comes from a Greek word which means "crowned one".
The New Testament uses the illustration of a crown seven
times in regard to a future promise and today I want to
examine just one of them,
the crown that will last forever after we faithfully
complete the race of life.
We heard an
interview by radio host Janet Parshall with singer Twila
Paris. Janet commented that "Runner", one of Twila Paris’
songs, had prompted her to request that a pair of worn-out
running shoes be placed on her tombstone, indicating she had
faithfully run the race! I like that!
Runner when the
road is long
Feel like giving in, but you're hanging on
Oh runner, when the race is won
You will run into His arms
Feel like giving in, but you're hanging on
Oh runner, when the race is won
You will run into His arms
The Apostle
Paul wrote today’s first portion of Scripture to the
Corinthian believers. Corinth was located in Greece where
the ancient Olympic games were held and many of his readers
would identify with this illustration that stresses a vital
spiritual truth.
I believe Paul was interested in athletics since he uses sport's illustrations in his writings such as running, wrestling and boxing. (I wrote about this last week in regard to using a baseball illustration.) In this passage he is urging diligence in the Christian life in the spirit of an overcomer. He urges the Corinthian believers and us to "Run in such a way as to get the prize". He reminds his readers of the strict training required for the serious contestant.
“They do it to get a crown that will not last.” The ancient crown of victory was a laurel wreath that quickly withered and died. Even the gold medals received by the winners in the modern games will one day perish.
Today many, perhaps most, are in pursuit of the various types of temporal crowns that will not last. For the great majority the pursuit of God is placed on a back burner in life to be dealt with at some later date, if at all.
“But we do it to get a crown that will last forever.” Praise God! This crown is not for a select few; note the plural pronoun “we”. Earlier in the passage he wrote regarding the competition in the ancient games that "only one gets the prize". Consider all the athletes who sacrifice many years of their time, money, and endure strict training to be in the Olympics yet they don’t receive a medal and may never even make it to the Olympics for that matter.
This is not so as it pertains to our future crown. All who faithfully live their lives for Christ will receive this righteous crown! It is not by our diligent works of righteousness; instead this crown is a gift because of the shed blood of the righteous One! In his final letter Paul expresses a tremendous assurance in God as he prepared for his departure from this life: “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” (2 Timothy 4:8).
Today we encourage you to keep in clear focus the heavenly coronation ceremony where we will receive our crown of righteousness. It will properly align our priorities on this side of heaven. It will also help us to run the spiritual race with our brothers and sisters in mind. We are not competing against them, but spurring them on as we run this race together with the mutual goal of receiving a crown of righteousness from the righteous Judge.
I believe Paul was interested in athletics since he uses sport's illustrations in his writings such as running, wrestling and boxing. (I wrote about this last week in regard to using a baseball illustration.) In this passage he is urging diligence in the Christian life in the spirit of an overcomer. He urges the Corinthian believers and us to "Run in such a way as to get the prize". He reminds his readers of the strict training required for the serious contestant.
“They do it to get a crown that will not last.” The ancient crown of victory was a laurel wreath that quickly withered and died. Even the gold medals received by the winners in the modern games will one day perish.
Today many, perhaps most, are in pursuit of the various types of temporal crowns that will not last. For the great majority the pursuit of God is placed on a back burner in life to be dealt with at some later date, if at all.
“But we do it to get a crown that will last forever.” Praise God! This crown is not for a select few; note the plural pronoun “we”. Earlier in the passage he wrote regarding the competition in the ancient games that "only one gets the prize". Consider all the athletes who sacrifice many years of their time, money, and endure strict training to be in the Olympics yet they don’t receive a medal and may never even make it to the Olympics for that matter.
This is not so as it pertains to our future crown. All who faithfully live their lives for Christ will receive this righteous crown! It is not by our diligent works of righteousness; instead this crown is a gift because of the shed blood of the righteous One! In his final letter Paul expresses a tremendous assurance in God as he prepared for his departure from this life: “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” (2 Timothy 4:8).
Today we encourage you to keep in clear focus the heavenly coronation ceremony where we will receive our crown of righteousness. It will properly align our priorities on this side of heaven. It will also help us to run the spiritual race with our brothers and sisters in mind. We are not competing against them, but spurring them on as we run this race together with the mutual goal of receiving a crown of righteousness from the righteous Judge.
Be encouraged today, (Hebrews 3:13)
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer: Father, we
know that when athletes go into strict training to
reach their physical goals, there is great sacrifice
involved. Their schedule, appetites, exercise,
endurance, and mindset must be yielded to their
physical training with the goal of winning the
prize. As believers, we too must be willing to
experience earthly sacrifice in exchange for heavenly gain.
We must lay aside that which takes our mind off the
prize and fix our eyes upon the Author and Finisher
of our faith who will reward us with the heavenly
crown of righteousness as we run the race to the
finish line. This crown will never perish, spoil or
fade and is awaiting us already in heaven. Keep us
faithful and trusting till we receive it on that
glorious day. Amen.Today's
Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources
"Runner"
Video
Twila Paris
Some
scenes from our bike trip in the Poconos
Everyone
rode a bike except 4 year old Stephen, who rode
in a toddler trailer/caboose behind his dad. I
caught a photo of the bikers looking in the
direction of their one sibling who stepped out
of line from the family caravan. The
colors were changing but still a lot of green.
We were on the Delaware and Lehigh rail trail,
one of the best rail trails we ride each year
(with the exception of Brooksyne who is still
recovering from surgery). This is the same trail
we ride when we take the bike train, which I hope
to do in several weeks on the last run of the
season.
The
Lehigh River looking toward Jim Thorpe
(Click on photo for larger image)
(Click on photo for larger image)
It
was a very busy weekend in Jim Thorpe with
many excursion trains due to the fall foliage festival
held on weekends throughout October.
This
long abandoned rail tunnel opening looks out
over the Lehigh River and proved to have
excellent acoustics for a family song!
(Click on photo for larger image)
(Click on photo for larger image)
A
view of the Lehigh River from a bluff over the
tunnel taken by one of the adventuresome boys
who likes to climb. Having severe basophobia the only way I
could take a photo like this would be flat on my
stomach. Even looking at the photo gives me the
heebie jeebies to imagine standing on the edge
and looking down!
(Click on photo for larger image)
(Click on photo for larger image)
Another
view taken from the bluff looking down at us
on the bridge in the foreground.
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Weber".Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. and the King James Version.
Personal Mission Statement: "I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity."
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