A Pile of Crowns

Rev Gideon Lee

Revelation 4:10-11

10 the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying:

11 “You are worthy, O Lord,

To receive glory and honor and power;

For You created all things,

And by Your will they exist and were created.”

What we see here is a glimpse of heaven.

There was a common practice in the ancient Roman Empire. They conquered many nations and they appoint lesser kings to rule the countries they have conquered. The emperor will command them to appear before him and they will take off their crowns and lay it at the feet of the emperor.

To show they were submitted to the emperor, the supreme ruler. They are just kings who are submitted to the emperor. They did it most of the time because of fear. Also as a sign of surrender. A king do not simply take off his crown. In the public, he does not take off his crown. They did it not because they love the emperor. But here they are required to do so.

It is a very different picture being painted here in Revelations. Many have speculated who the 24 elders are. They willingly laid down their crowns and they said worthy are you because you deserve all glory and all things are created for his pleasure. They love God.

We have come to church to worship him because he deserves it. It is not because of us. It is about us coming to worship him. As we worship God and give him all recognition there is a divine exchange. He wants to take care of us. He exchange our oil of mourning for joy. Our ashes for what?

We have come because it is all about him. In heaven it is all about the King of kings and Lord of lords. He deserves it.

The first thing I want to talk about is that there is an appointment we cannot escape.

In heaven the foundations are made of precious gemstones and streets of gold. Where there are mansions and pearly gates. This is heaven. Have I been there? No. But it is not about the mansions and gold. There are no tears or pain so we have no needs.

2 Corinthians 5:10

10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

Throughout the week God has been trying to make an appointment with you. An appointment with you on Wednesday for praise and power night. And on Friday for cell and Saturday for Youth. Or Sunday for church. Some we attend, some we don't. 

But there is one appointment all of us cannot escape. For it is appointed for all men to die and then…? Judgement. For rewards.

That one we all have to keep. No choice. So what do we do.

John 5:22 For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son,

He is called by many names. The alpha and the omega. The beginning and the end. And everything in between. The prince of peace, the holy one. The bright and morning star. Our counsellor, the great I Am and the way the truth and the life. I like this. No other religion can proclaim that. Neither Buddha or Muhammad claimed that. Talk about authority.

There is going to be an authority we will face. But it's a good thing for us.

The bible tells us that there is going to be an assessment we will endure.

1 Corinthians 3:12-15

12 Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each one's work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is. 14 If anyone's work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.

We notice two things. What will we be assessed for. We would want to know the criteria if we are to be evaluated. Right? We will want to know and God has given us the criteria.

We will be evaluated on our ministry. How we build our ministry. Whatever we build will be evaluated. God has given his children spiritual gifts. Are we supposed to take that one talent and bury it and dig it up when he comes? No we are supposed to multiply our talents. When he comes what do we show him if you have 5 talents? 10. We are going to be evaluated by the talents we have when he comes.

If we are just to be saved to get to heaven then he may as well take us after we pray our sinner's prayer. That is a by product. We are blessed to be a blessing. God says he has rewards for his children. He is like a father.

If you want a reward you have to know there is an expectation. Are we using our talents for God. We can build our ministry with a wrong motive. Do you knew that? God is not interested in all that. Let's not be guilty of this. God will ask what we have done for God. I'd want God to say well done my good and faithful servant. But we are serving not because of the reward but because we love him.

Second, what do we build with. Gold, silver and precious stones or wood, hay and straw? Those things that we do with good motives are those precious stones. Or the gold and silver. God wants us to build with integrity. It's not what we build but our motives. Do we love God?

John MacArthur says many believers live their lives that there are no profit to the kingdom of God.

There are 5 possible crowns.

1. The incorruptible crown

For their faithfulness to God.

2. The crown of life

For the person who overcomes and endures for Jesus.

3. A crown of rejoicing

For soul winners.

4. A crown of righteousness

For those who live in anticipation of Jesus' return.

5. Crown of glory

For the faithful who lead and feed the flock.

All these should be natural for all of us. It should be natural for Christians to win souls. To be faithful. To be busy for the Lord.

There is an adoration that we have to express.

The 24 elders that I was talking about. What did they do? They came before the throne, lay down their crowns and worshipped God. That's the adoration we give when we meet Jesus. Are we going to heaven with crowns. I hope that's what we'll do. When we go to heaven to worship him I'd want to take off my crown to worship him. Everything that we have done pales in comparison to him. My question is that where will be some crowns we can lay down for him.

I hope we don't go into God's presence empty handed. That we have built what he wanted us to build. That he has found us faithful. He deserves all the glory. In heaven there is no GST. Here GST is government sales tax but in church its God Saves Today. Amen?

Let's lay down our crowns before God. What are we doing this morning? How many of us will say I'll do my part? I want to serve. By the way, we have given out the nomination for this year's board members. Prayerfully consider and serve your church. At least be a soul winner.

I want God to say well done my good and faithful servant. Not my servant what have you done?

Evangelistic Easter service is coming up. How many of you will bring someone? Church camp coming up. It's going to be wonderful camp at Cameron Highlands. Why Cameron Highlands? It's nearer to God (laughs). We want to get away from our routine to hear from God.