The Crowning Day (2)

by J. Miller | Category: Voices From The Past - Extracted From Jottings | Nov 1979

How many crowns may be competed for? Three, at least, we read of: "the crown of life", "the crown of righteousness", "the crown of glory". The crown of life is for the man who endures temptation: "Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he hath been approved, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord promised to them that love Him" (Jas. 1:12). In this passage James specially speaks of enduring temptation from the lusting of one's own evil nature. The man who has not learned to gain the victory through divine grace in contests against his own evil self will never be the one who will be able to endure temptation which comes through outward persecution for truth's sake. Some who appeared veritable giants for the truth at one time were found wanting when the time came to endure for the truth they had taught. And why? They had been drawn away by their own lust. Lust does not necessarily mean lust in its grosser, immoral forms; it can be seen in lust for place and prominence. A small place among a few people is very mortifying to the flesh, yet it is often the place in which you can gain the victory over self: "Take, brethren, for an example of suffering and of patience, the prophets who spake in the name of the Lord. Behold, we call them blessed which endured" (Jas. 5:10,11). Did the prophets who spake the Lord's message seek after place and popularity? Never! The false prophets who sought these brought messages of peace when there was no peace, but the Lord's prophets were among the most unpopular of men. Yet when years passed away the faithful and obedient shine in undimmed splendour: "Ye call them blessed that endured"; and the man whose garments are stained with the lust of his own proud heart can be clearly seen in his proper light.

We read again of the crown of life in connexion with some of God's saints in Smyrna whom the devil was about to cast into prison, that they may be tried. (Tried, or tempted, is the same word as in James 1). They were to have tribulation ten days, but the Lord says: "Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee the crown of life" (Rev. 2:10). Here it is temptation through suffering for the truth's sake, and this same prize (the crown of life) is held out for those who faithfully endure. And, as we have said before, a man who has not learned to overcome the lusts native to his own flesh, lust manifested in so many and varied ways, will never stand before the blast of the devil's temptations.

J. Miller | Nov 1979
Voices From The Past - Extracted From Jottings