Not to Me Only, but Also to All Who Have Loved His Appearing

 

Thus, the crown of righteousness is not something that only the apostle Paul can receive. If we also, like the apostle Paul, fight the good fight of faith, finish the course appointed for us, and keep the faith (2 Timothy 4:7), then on that day when Jesus Christ appears again, the crown of righteousness will be given to us also. This is the faith we must have.

 

Hebrews 11:6 “And without faith it is impossible to be well-pleasing unto him; for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that seek after him.”

 

When we clearly know and believe that there is a reward to be given to us afterward, that is, when Jesus Christ appears again, then we too, like the apostle Paul, will fight the good fight of faith and finish the course appointed to each of us by faith.

 

1 Corinthians 9:24-25 “24 Know ye not that they that run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? Even so run; that ye may attain. 25 And every man that striveth in the games exerciseth self-control in all things. Now they do it to receive a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.”

 

2 Chronicles 15:7 “But be ye strong, and let not your hands be slack; for your work shall be rewarded.”

 

Therefore, Moses also looked to the reward that would come afterward, and gave up his place as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter.

 

Hebrews 11:24-26 “24 By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; 25 choosing rather to share ill treatment with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; 26 accounting the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt: for he looked unto the recompense of reward.”

 

Jesus also, though He was in the form of God, emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, and died on the cross for the joy that was set before Him.

 

Philippians 2:6-8 “6 who, existing in the form of God, counted not the being on an equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men; 8 and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, becoming obedient even unto death, yea, the death of the cross.”

 

Hebrews 12:2 “looking unto Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising shame, and hath sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

 

Therefore, we too must fight the good fight of faith in order to lay hold on eternal life.

 

1 Timothy 6:10-12 “10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil: which some reaching after have been led astray from the faith, and have pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith, lay hold on the life eternal, whereunto thou wast called, and didst confess the good confession in the sight of many witnesses.”

 

James 1:11-12 “11 For the sun ariseth with the scorching wind, and withereth the grass: and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his goings. 12 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.”

 

And this reward, as Paul preached, will be given “at that day” by the Lord Jesus, the righteous Judge (James 4:12), to those who keep the faith to the end when He comes again.

 

1 Peter 1:6-9 “6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, ye have been put to grief in manifold trials, 7 that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold that perisheth though it is proved by fire, may be found unto praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ: 8 whom not having seen ye love; on whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice greatly with joy unspeakable and full of glory: 9 receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.”

 

1 Peter 1:13 “Wherefore girding up the loins of your mind, be sober and set your hope perfectly on the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

 

Colossians 3:4 “When Christ, who is our life, shall be manifested, then shall ye also with him be manifested in glory.”

 

Thus, when Jesus comes again, He will render to every man according to his deeds (Matthew 16:27). Therefore, the reward will be given not only to people like the apostle Paul, but to “all who have loved His appearing.”

 

Romans 4:23-24 “23 Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was reckoned unto him; 24 but for our sake also, unto whom it shall be reckoned, who believe on him that raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.”

 

John 17:20 “Neither for these only do I pray, but for them also that believe on me through their word.”

 

Romans 10:13 “for, Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

 

Therefore, all of us must keep the faith of Jesus firmly to the end without being shaken (Revelation 14:12), and we must always and steadfastly look for and earnestly desire the coming of the promised day of Jesus.

 

2 Peter 3:10-13 “10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall be dissolved with fervent heat, and the earth and the works that are therein shall be burned up. 11 Seeing that these things are thus all to be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy living and godliness, 12 looking for and earnestly desiring the coming of the day of God, by reason of which the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? 13 But, according to his promise, we look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.”

 

Amen.