The Believer's Crown

You saved of earth, who witness the greatest,
Reaping for Christ whited fields of the lost;
Look not for more reward than the latest
Who took the scythe; weigh not salvation's cost
By how much harvest gathered; how much fruit.
He who enters heaven is there by grace,
Not because he ministered most astute,
Or worked the longest, or deserves the place!
All of the redeemed are princes in heaven;
With belivers' crowns and some dominions,
According to our Lord's gracious leaven;
To each, a mansion, and angel minions!
God will not unjustly coronate some;
All will be content with what they've become!

Paul says that being a Christian is like being a contestant in a race for which all train strictly, but in which there is one big difference: Instead of one being the champion and receiving the crown, all are champions and all receive crowns. A believer in Christ will get his own crown (See 1 Corinthians 9:25), for he is adopted into God's family, made a brother to Christ, and is co-heir to all the universe! Who wants more than that? Besides, isn't that exactly what we are training to be here on earth? Aren't we training ourselves to be humble, unselfish, unenvious, uncovetous, to love everyone, to be unjealous. etc.? How do you think we can be qualified to enter heaven and yet be envious of some one else's reward? Those evil attributes will be left behind, on earth, where they belomg.

Jesus taught a parable (See Matthew 20:1-16) about a landowner who hired workers to work in his vineyard at different times of the day---some worked 12 hours, some 9, some 6, some 3. and the rest just 1 hour. When the day was done, he lined them up to be paid in the order of the total time worked by each, the least hours worked to be paid first, and so on. He paid those who worked 1 hour 1 denarius each; 3 hours 1 denarius each, and so on, with those who worked 12 hours also receiving 1 denarius each. They grumbled among themselves, but he said, Haven't I paid you what you agreed to work for" What does it matter to you if I am generous with my money to these others? The landowner is like our God, and the workers are like Christians who serve Him for various lengths of time. Deathbed conversions receive the same recompense---salvation and all that is included with it---as the 9-year-old who comes forward at the preacher's invitation and served Him for a lifetime.

The apostle John lived to be almost 100 years old and died a martyr's death after serving faithfully with Jesus throughout His ministry and the rest of his life spreading the gospel. John was a spectator at Jesus'crucifiction; he also took care of Mary, the mother of Jesus until her death. Do you think he felt any jealousy when one of the two thieves who were crucified with Jesus begged the Savior to remember him, and Jesus answered, "This day you will be with me in paradise?" I don't believe he did, nor would any other Christian. Our feeling at such a thing would be the same as that of the angels in heaven when any new Christian confesses belief---unmitigated joy.