The Crown

“For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 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 4:6-8)

It was time for Paul to die. He knew it. He was being “poured out like a drink offering.” That was a type of offering in the Old Testament that involved pouring liquid into the ground. Paul’s life was being poured out as his final offering to his Savior who had once died for him. His departure was near.

In the face of death, would Paul regret his faith in Jesus, which resulted in so much pain and suffering? In the face of death, would Paul doubt the promises of God that he had preached to others? In the face of death, would Paul question whether there really is eternal life waiting for us in heaven?

No! Instead, Paul wrote three staccato-like phrases that emphasized his faith in Jesus, even in the face of death: “I have fought the good fight.” Life as a Christian is like a boxing match, constantly facing one opponent after another. “I have finished the race.” Life as a Christian is like a long race that requires stamina and endurance. “I have kept the faith.” Ultimately, that’s the goal, isn’t it? That at the end of our fight, at the end of our race, we are found to have faith in Jesus as our Savior.

By faith, Paul was ready to die, because he knew what was coming next: “Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness.” In Paul’s day, runners who won a race received a crown of flowers. Paul knew that a crown was waiting for him. Not a temporary flower crown, but an everlasting crown of righteousness in heaven from Jesus. This is what allowed Paul to face death fearlessly: The crown.

You can too. You can face death fearlessly too. Life is hard, like a fight. Fight the good fight! Life is long, like a marathon. Finish the race! Because you know what’s at the end: The crown. The crown of righteousness through faith in Jesus. 

Dear Jesus, like you did for Paul, give us strength for our race, give us a faith in you that endures to the end, and, when it’s your time, give us your crown of righteousness in heaven. Amen.

Pastor Nathan