| A gold medal! |
| The ultimate reward for excellence in an OLYMPIC CONTEST! |
|
| Awarded by the International Olympic Committee |
| In ancient times, instead of a gold medal, the reward was a perishable crown of olive or laurel leaves |
| which lasted only a few weeks, |
| but the honor of having it placed on your head in the presence of thousands of spectators made it worth all the effort. |
| GOLD! |
| Golden crowns! |
| Eternal crowns! |
| The ultimate awards for excellence in the CONTESTS OF LIFE! |
| Awarded by God Himself, the Creator, Owner, and King of heaven and earth! - Revelation 4:4 |
| AN INDESTRUCTIBLE CROWN: Awarded for a disciplined, wholehearted devotedness to God – 1 Corinthians 9:25 |
| A CROWN OF LIFE: Awarded for victory over temptation – James 1:12 |
| A CROWN OF REJOICING: Awarded for effectiveness in winning people for Christ – 1 Thessalonians 2:19 |
| A CROWN OF GLORY: Awarded for faithful, caring leadership among God’s people – 1 Peter 5:4 |
| A CROWN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS: Awarded for faithful completion of God’s will for us on earth - 1 Timothy 4:8 |
| Toward what kinds of rewards are you devoting your life today? Are they the rewards of this world which are untrustworthy, perish-able, and (after the initial thrill) ultimately unsatisfying? |
| Do you realize that the |
| LORD JESUS CHRIST |
| wore a |
| CROWN OF THORNS |
| that you might receive the crowns mentioned above? |
| Which crowns are more worthy of your life’s occupation? For whom will you live your life, yourself or God? It is your choice. |
