Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. James 1:12 ESV
When we study the scriptures on receiving the crown of life, they are always in context of overcoming. Jesus asks a poignant question, from Luke 18:7-8, “when the son of man comes, will He find faith on the earth?” From Matthew 24:13 Jesus said it is the one who endures (perseveres) through the difficulties to the end that shall be saved.
We live in a troubled word and should not think it strange when we meet trouble. First Peter reminds us to rejoice as we participate in the sufferings of Christ because the end of the matter is a revelation of His glory. Paul reminds us these momentary light afflictions work a far greater weight of glory for us. We don’t always believe the circumstances are working good when we are in the midst of them but anything that reveals the condition of our hearts and aligns us with and to our Father is good.
The epistle of James, chapter 1 addresses testing. We are told to consider testing as something that works for our good because it produces perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work to produce a mature and complete (entire, sound, perfect, complete in every part) individual who lacks nothing. This is the work of God and it is good in His sight.
Learning how to view the events transpiring in our lives must be done with a view of eternity, in order to to endure. If our hope is only in this life, we are of men most miserable. But we are to hold a hope of heaven that frees us from the love of this world, knowing that everything we endure and overcome yields this promised crown of life.
This crown is mentioned twice in the New Testament and is also found noted in
Revelation 2:9-11 -
[9] “‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich) and the slander of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. [10] Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. [11] He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.’
You can see the crown is associated with overcoming some kind of trouble. It reads to me, the overcoming is about our ability to stay faithful and believing in Jesus as our Lord, not denying him in the middle of adversity.
The saying is trustworthy, for: If we have died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him, if we deny him, he also will deny us; if we are faithless, he remains faithful—for he cannot deny himself. 2 Timothy 2:11-14
Let’s think about denying in a different context than denying our eternal salvation and consider; if Deny is defined as ‘refusing to admit the truth of’ and Jesus is the ‘Word of truth’, if we reject His word, are we then denying Jesus? We are exhorted in Philippians to hold fast to the word of life. If we deny his word, we can not persevere. Wavering and doubting make us unstable in all our ways.
Paul writes in 2 Timothy 4:7-
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. [8] Henceforth there is laid up 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.
and again in 1 Corinthians 9:25 he says ~
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.
By having endured, our hearts and minds-our lives-are disciplined. With our understanding of the Lord’s ways increased, we labour on knowing God works all things together for our good. Finally, in that great day, we are crowned with the Crown of Life.
Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.