The Crown Of Life!
"Blessed is the man who endures temptation;
for when he has been approved, he will receive
the crown of life which the Lord has promised
to those who love Him."
James 1: 12
The Olympics began in ancient Greece. But the spirit of
prowess and competition didn’t disappear when Rome
replaced Greece as the dominant Mediterranean power.
The Romans tested themselves with training and competition
just as the Greeks had—all for the glory of winning a crown,
a wreath of leaves to wear on one’s head.
Two prominent biblical themes have roots in athletic competition:
the idea of testing and reward of a crown. Both passages in the
New Testament where the “crown of life” is mentioned are in the
context of testing or temptation (James 1:2-12; Revelation 2:10-11).
James 1 is the well-known section on joyfully facing spiritual tests,
concluding with a promise of the “crown of life” for all who persevere.
The same is true in Revelation 2:10-11. Church in Smyrna was about
to undergo testing, after which the “crown of life” would be given to
the faithful.
Even if tests lead to death, we have the
promise of eternal life, a reward leading
to the praise of Christ (Revelation
4:10).
"Christ went by the cross to the crown,
and we must not think of going any
other way."
Matthew Henry
