Let no man take thy crown!!

A crown signifies a reward for doing something that is right. In scripture, we can see this illustrated in a number of passages:

1 Corinthians 9:24-26 (KJV)
24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.
25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.

James 1: 12
 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
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We can see from the above scriptures that a crown is for a reward. If this is the case, why would the bible warn us to ensure that no man takes our crown?

Revelation 3: 10 - 11

Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.0 - 11

 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.
 
I think it is safe to say that the implication of someone else taking a person’s crown means that a person has lost their reward relating to that crown. If the bible warns us, then we need to be vigilant.

So how can this happen? I don’t have all the answers, but l think it is safe to say the following:

• Whatever the Lord tells us to do, we should do it. We should not to be stiff necked that the Lord has to find someone else for what He has commissioned us to do.
• We should refuse to be distracted from our course and what really matters. In a race if a person who could have won gets carried away with distractions somebody else will win and take their crown.
• We should endure hardships and refuse to compromise on what really matters at the end of the day.

Life is short even if we lived up to 120 years, it is still short.

We need to live purposeful lives knowing that the Lord will reward us. Whatever the Lord tells us to do, we must do it in the right time.

Say to yourself!! By the grace of God, no man will take my crown.

​Bisi Oladipupo