Revelation 4 opens with an invitation. John is invited to walk through a door directly into heaven, into the very throne room of Christ. He describes a stunning scene of splendor and worship with Christ seated at the center, radiating light and color in a singular fashion set apart only for Him. I can’t help but wonder how long it took John to tear his eyes away from his beloved Jesus to consider the entire scene that was unfolding before him.
John describes the presence of others seated around the exalted throne of Christ. Each of the 24 elders is seated on a throne and each bestowed with a crown of gold. I long to know how they received such a rich honor- to be seated so near the Lamb of God as to reach out and touch Him. How did they receive their golden crowns?
Scripture reveals that there are crowns being stored up in heaven for believers…a crown of righteousness (2 Tim 4:8), a crown of glory (1 Peter 5:4), the crown of life (James 1:12) among others. The crowns represent a glorious prize, recognition for deeds, decisions and suffering endured for the sake of Christ. What are we to do with our crowns - with something so precious, so hard won?
The 24 elders respond by…fall[ing] down before Him…and lay[ing] their crowns before the throne (Rev 4:10 b). They go on to offer words of worship to the Lamb who is worthy of all honor. What a beautiful reminder that everything, everything is about Christ. He is in the center of it all. Anything we gain for His namesake, any good deed and race well run that results in a prize, a crown, is given back to Him in praise and humble recognition. How I long for heaven, for Christ, for the honor of laying down everything I have before His throne in His presence. The elders' response to Jesus serves as a reminder to hold loosely to the lesser prize of a crown so that our hands and hearts might be open to the greater prize at the center of it all, Christ Himself.
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