Young People's Group

The Crown of Righteousness

by Mitchell Tan
March 16, 2018

THANK GOD FOR A WONDERFUL CAMP

It has been a wonderful week of listening to the Scriptures at Family Camp 2018. The Lord has spoken to many of us and indeed our hearts are deeply challenged to walk in the light of the Lord. We have learnt from the examples of King Uzziah and King Hezekiah that we can start well in our walk, but it does not mean that we would end well. The challenge of the hour is not just to commence walking, but to be consistent in our walk till the end of our life.

FINISHING WELL

“I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”
2 Timothy 4:7

The apostle Paul was someone who finished his race of life with flying colours. Paul was very focused on the different aspects of his life and ministry that he needed to work on. With regards to the good fight, Paul fought well. With regards to the race of life, he ran it with all his might. With regards to the faith, he held fast to it and kept it to the end. Let’s find the grace and strength to not just commence living for the Lord but to complete it well.

HOPE IN RECEIVING A CROWN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

“Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness …”
2 Timothy 4:8

The word “finally” in Greek has the idea of “conclusion”. Paul had fulfilled all that he needed to do as a servant of God and shortly, the Lord would take him home. He knew with all confidence that the Lord had laid up for him an eternal reward. He was fully assured that he would indeed receive the crown of righteousness with joy. He had been faithful to the Lord and had finished his race of life well. In the days of Paul, an athlete was rewarded with a crown of laurel leaves when he won a race. He had this deep sense of hope in receiving this heavenly prize.

1. HOPE BECAUSE IT IS GIVEN BY A RIGHTEOUS JUDGE

“… Which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day …”
2 Timothy 4:8

The Lord Jesus will definitely return to the earth one day. He would not come as a baby as in His first coming. He will come this time as a victorious and righteous Judge. “The Day” is a reference to the Lord’s second coming concerning what He would do. When the Lord comes, the dead in Christ will rise and there would be the rapture of the saints (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). And he would reward all who have been faithful to Him. Paul had written of how he had every confidence that the Lord would keep what he had committed to Him in that Day (2 Timothy 1:12). Paul also wrote of how He would grant mercy to Onesiphorus on the Day that He would come (2 Timothy 1:16). The Lord would grant the crown of righteousness according to His mercies. The Lord Jesus as the righteous Judge and King will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom (2 Timothy 4:1). Let’s seek to have this certainty of hope in Him.

2. HOPE BECAUSE IT IS GIVEN TO ALL WHO HAS FAITH IN HIS APPEARING

“… And not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.”
2 Timothy 4:8

“His appearing” is a reference to the Lord’s second coming with emphasis on His personal appearance. This crown of righteousness was not just meant for Paul alone. It was meant for all who would also seek to walk with the Lord and to love Him. They would possess the same spirit of faith in the Lord’s second coming. When we believe in His promises, there is that yearning to see Him face to face and to receive our reward from our Lord when He appears to us. Young people, let’s seek to have this hope and confidence too that we have a crown of righteousness laid up for us. Let’s seek to love the Lord till the end, look forward to seeing Him and receiving our crown from Him.

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