2 Timothy 4:8
~22 min read
SERMON OUTLINE
💭 Consider this: How does the promise of receiving the “crown of righteousness” challenge or encourage you in your present spiritual journey? What can you do today to remain faithful and prepare yourself for that day?
TRANSCRIPT
Introduction
The title of our meditation is receiving the crown. Well, to finish well is also to end with God's reward. Now, this will be what we are going to consider this morning.
And just to recap a little bit, last Lord’s day we have learned that to finish well, is to be prepared to die according to verse six. And to be prepared to die is when we are ready to offer ourselves to the Lord. And to be prepared to die is to be ready to depart because we know where we are going. We know where we have come from, why we are here and we know where we are going.
And to be prepared to die is to be prepared any time or to prepare to die anytime. So in other words, we must be prepared all the time to live our lives holy and pleasing before God, obeying him, whatever it takes to bear a testimony for our Savior.
So that's what we covered last lord day. And then at prayer meeting on Friday evening, we learned to finish well when we have fought a good fight of faith. And you must realize that when we woke up to a new day, we woke up to a new battle, a spiritual battle.
Well, can you imagine that? The moment we are awake, know whether our eyes are open or not, whether we are still on the bed or not, we are already in the spiritual battle. In our thoughts, in our words, and in our actions, there is a battle to be fought.
So as Christian soldiers, we fight as we train and we train as we fight. And what are we fighting? We fight against sin because our flesh is weak. And so we need to fight. Fight against evil thoughts. Fight against bad words that may come out of our mouth. We must fight against anything - no sinful activities that may cause us to fall into temptation and sin against God. So we must fight. We must fight.
And we must fight against the world because the world is constantly against our God. And we fight also against the devil because the devil wants us to fail God, to turn away from God and to disobey God.
So we are fighting all the time spiritually. It is a spiritual fight. And this is a good fight because it is for the truth. We do not fight for lies. We do not fight for falsehood. But we fight for God's truth. The truth is found in God's word. Well it is our foundation of our faith. Well, we base our belief not on nothing but on something that is logical, on something that is by faith. We believe God has saved us through his only begotten son, our Lord and our Savior Jesus Christ. And we believe by faith. We trust in the Lord. And so therefore, we are willing to die for him. He has saved us to the end.
And our life and ministry are not only seen as the spiritual warfare as we fight a good fight of faith. It is also a race to be run, a cause for us to complete. Just as every runner prepares himself so that he may finish the race. Likewise, we as Christian runners and we all have our own race to run and we may have started the race on a different time because the Lord has saved us at different time. And we may also end the race at different time. You may end the race later than me because the Lord has called me home earlier than you. But whatever it is, we will want to finish the race, end the race faithfully.
So Paul says, ‘No, I have completed the race. I have finished my course.’ No one can run the race for you. You have to run. You have your own number. The number tag on on your body to run your own race from beginning all the way to the end.
And let us all finish the race faithfully. So not only is a spiritual battle, it is a race to be run to complete. We all we also must keep our faith. We must guard our faith all the way to the end. Faith cometh by hearing and hearing from the word of God. And this is objective faith. And we are to earnestly contend for the faith once delivered unto the saint.
So all the doctrine of the Bible is for our spiritual learning so that we may grow spiritually. We are to grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and our Savior Jesus Christ. Satan will always try to shake our faith so that our faith will become weakened unto him.
Well, how we how he wish we will just give up our faith. He knows. Knows he cannot take away our salvation because our salvation is in God's hand. But he can destroy our testimony. So all it take is we stumble one another in the faith. Then the church will be destroyed. There will be no unity, no love. So has he won over us? Or have we resisted him And has hold fast the faithful word and that we have kept the faith.
So we need to continue to guard our faith. We cannot take for granted. So this is what we must do. The Christian life does not end in defeat or disappointment. It ends in glory and with a great reward awaiting us.
And so after declaring that he had fought a good fight, he had finished his cause, he has kept the faith, Apostle Paul looked beyond that. He has all prepared to die. But he is now looking beyond that.
And he spoke about the reward awaiting him. And that is found in verse eight. He says, "Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness." A crown of righteousness. In the midst of awaiting execution - because he knows fully well his head is going to roll, well, he will be beheaded for his faith - and so with this at the back of his mind, what consumes him is not fear.
I. The promise
What consumed him is the reward that is promised. And so it is a great promise. The promise that is given by God the great Savior. And so over here we have the promise of the crown but the phrase laid up means something that had been reserved, something that had been stored safely for the future.
And so Paul was confident that his reward is sure, is secure. And this reward is the crown of righteousness. What a metaphor of a crown has always been what will be received – know after you have accomplished a task or a race.
Well, you had been given the idea in those days, when they run the race especially the first one, the winner the champion he will be given a crown. Of course the crown is not made of gold, silver or precious stone. But that is a symbol of a victory that he has obtained after running the race, that is the crown.
Everyone will look up to the champion, that he has won the crown. He has received the crown. In fact, in 1 Corinthians 9:25, Apostle Paul says, they do it to “obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible." So we use the corruptible crown to give us an example that there will be a crown but we are not fighting for a crown or physical crown. It is going to be more than just a spiritual crown. It's an incorruptible crown. A crown that will belong to you. You have nothing to do whether who is first or last. All of us will receive the crown of righteousness when we finish well.
Well, the crown of righteousness represents the final reward of a life that lives faithfully for Christ. And it is a crown of righteousness. We must live a righteous life. A life that is patterned after the life of Christ. The life of Christ is the supreme example. A life of compassion, a life of truth, a life of obedience.
These are found under the umbrella of righteousness. He stood for the truth. He did not compromise. He did not fall into temptation. He obeyed God perfectly. Yet no doubt when we look at the life of Christ, it seemed impossible. How can we follow the perfect God man? But are we not to conform to the image of Christ more and more each day? We are to follow him. We are to love as he has loved. We are to forgive as he has forgiven. We are to emulate and to follow his footstep.
And so a crown of righteousness. I don't believe it is going to be a physical crown because there will be also a crown of life. There will be other crowns that God will give to us as he has promised. So how many heads do we have to wear the crown. But it is an honor. It is a privilege and it is to our comfort and encouragement to know that our God remembers all that we have done for him.
What do we want God to remember in our life? Surely we do not want God to remember our mistakes, our errors, our sin, our shortcoming, our wickedness, and all the evil that we are capable to do in this life. But what we want God to remember is what we have done for him. How we have cared for one another which often time overlooked, often time not appreciated. In fact often time people have taken for granted and so we felt what's the point? Nobody care, nobody knows so why do I bother.
But then we are reminded of the Lord's example and so we do it for His sake. And so the Lord remembers and God will remember because we have done it for him. And so it encourages our heart to know that this is God’s promise. We are not looking at the physical crown of righteousness. We are looking at the giver, the rewarder of the crown.
II. The rewarder
So that’s why Paul says the crown will be given by the righteous judge. The Lord Jesus Christ is the righteous judge. The ultimate judgment belongs to Christ. And we thank God because we know that He will be a righteous judge. He will judge fairly and squarely. And we want him to judge fairly, righteously. We do not want him to be biased, isn't it?
So as such, we make sure that what we are doing right now on earth before the Lord calls us home. Let us make sure that we are righteous, obeying his truth, obeying his word, embracing all the doctrine of his word and not forsaking them. We may have an issue of remembering.
Well, I always encourage the elderly in the ministry, in the elderly ministry, which the Lord has put me in charge of them. Know the best way to remember is to live it up. Know our memory is failing us day by day. Especially for the elderly.
And so the best way is the moment you learn the truth. Live it out. Live out the truth. If you have learned how to Love one another, how to live it out. Well, do something good for Jesus every day. That's how you love one another. Think of someone whom you can encourage. Think of someone whom you can comfort. Well, we are living in this world full of troubles and we are not all of the same faith.
Now there are those who have been hindered in their in their ways and so there are people who come and to deceive them and because of the weakness of their flesh and they do not know the Bible Well they fall away and we know this we can go and encourage them, to teach them, to help them spiritually or something that you can do.
Let us be faithful. We may not know everything in the Bible, but whatever we know, know the knowledge that we have received, lift them up. And we pray for wisdom know how to do it. I told for the elderly they have no more excuse, because often times it, oh I cannot remember, I cannot concentrate, I cannot this, I cannot that, because they fall back on the weakness of the flesh. Well I'm old already. I cannot do this.
So you must understand but it's just excuses isn't it? Can we love one another? Instead of just leaving the plate there, can you do something to maybe you may not have the strength to bring the plate to the kitchen to the basin, but perhaps you can use the tissue and to wipe it. Instead of leaving all the remains on the table dirty you can do something isn't it?
I love those elderly who do not wish to be a burden, but sometime they cannot help it but even then they will try to help themselves? What a blessing to help these elderly isn't it, but then for those who think that they are helpless. Actually they can help themselves but they just do not want to lift a finger. They just stay there, sit there. Well, we can do something. In fact, the best way to keep active, to keep yourself mobile. Because you may never know when help is going to come. So you have to help yourself And that is being good stewards and following the way of the Lord. To be a blessing to the people around us.
So we can do something. And the Lord the righteous judge he will give us what we deserve. He is the righteous judge. So in other words, we make sure that we do all things righteously, not grudgingly. Because you may do a thing that everyone is doing. You may produce the same result, but what is the intent? What is the heart that is behind the work that you have done? Is it acceptable? Not only God knows, but we know as well.
Let our motive be pure. When we help one another, let not there be any ulterior motive behind it. Let it be out of Christian love. Well, I help you because I want to get something out of you. No, that is not Christian love. That is selfish love because you love yourself first.
In fact, you only love those who are able to help you. What about those who cannot help you? You just put them aside. You are no use to me.
But what about what about God? No, God doesn't need us. And yet he loved us. In fact, we have done so much evil. Now, what we deserve is punishment. We do not deserve anything good from God. So, let this all be a reminder so that we will be selfless when we obey God's word.
Now, it's not going to be, oh, what will I get out of this? Will I get a praise? Will I get an honor? Will people recognize? Will people remember what I've done? No, forget about all this. God remembers, good enough. God knows and that is good enough because he is the righteous judge.
Hebrews 6:10, one of my favorite verse. “For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labor of love.” For the Lord remembers every act of service that you have done for him.
But when will He give us the reward? Apostle Paul says the crown will be given at that day. So with the promise and we know the giver, the rewarder. But when will we receive the promise? It will be at that day, the future day when believers stand before Christ, which the Bible says, ‘No, it is the judgment seat of Christ.’ 2 Corinthians 5:10. Paul says, "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ."
And this judgment seat is not for salvation but is for the works not that we have done for him. Are we faithful in all these works that God has given to us? Are we faithful every Lord’s day when we come to worship him? Or are we playing a fool? Are we thinking of our work know that we are going to do in the week days? Are we thinking of our studies know that we are going to do in our weekdays? Are we faithful? So all these will be revealed. We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ.
So what will be the evaluation? What will be the conclusion? The assessment that the Lord has of us. Let us not wait till then. Then we start to, ‘aiyah, I could have done this I should have done that’, and full of regrets. But we cannot turn back the clock, but right now we are reminded we are taught we are to spend every moment, every day to make sure that we live righteously for the Lord.
Well, we reflect the graduation day how the student studies very hard. But on the graduation day, he will look back. Wow, all the midnight oils know that he burned, all the effort that he had put in, all the struggles, the pressures and all the time that he had spent and all the prayers that he has committed to the Lord. Know how he trusted the Lord and he had done his best.
Although on the day of graduation, wow, it was all joy, isn’t it? It's not just that piece of paper. The piece of paper is only in black and white. No, you have accomplished. You have finished your study. But it's all the hard work, all the years of learning, all the years of education and also the years whereby you suffer in the Lord. So that's what happened on the graduation day and what's more in in heaven when we will all be standing before the Lord Jesus Christ the righteous judge on the graduation day.
III. The Recipients
And this crown that has been promised to be given by the rewarder, it is to all believers. The Apostle Paul said not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. You know not that Paul truly deserve - not any one of us can compare ourself with him, we are not even close - Paul was beheaded for his faith. He surely deserved it. But for us, not at a comfort of our lives, many a time we failed, isn't it?
Well, let us know that the crown of righteousness can also be ours if only we take heed. And to all who eagerly await the return of Christ. It's just like you look forward to exam. Now, the only time that I look forward to exam is when I am all prepared. I'm sure if you are not prepared, you wish you have more time. You wish that the exam will not come. Maybe another day, another week, another month, because you are not prepared. But if you are all prepared, you are ready for it. Let it come.
That's what happened to me when for the first time I studied seriously in God's word. I'm not a good student in school, play a fool. So I did badly but thank God I still managed to pull through. I finished my poly technique. But the Lord calls, so I enter into the Bible college. So when I enter, I enter as a new man.
So I take my studies seriously. I never studied so hard before. In fact, I never know about what is burning midnight oil until I enter Far Esatern Bible college. I never studied so hard before. But I enjoy my studies. Although it's difficult especially you have to study the biblical languages, Hebrew and Greek. Wow. But I enjoy it. Oh, tough. But when you are all prepared, know the way I study is more than just a exam because I'm equipping myself through the learning in order to be prepared for the ministry. So it is more than just passing exams. In fact, I learn more than the subject itself. Because I want to know so that if I have any question I can ask the lecturers.
So I learn more than just the subject. At that time, I do not have internet. We just use whatever reference books available. We just study. But all the exam I look forward, because I'm more prepared. Sometimes I can become proud – 'How come the exam so easy?' I can become proud, so well prepared.
But it’s true, isn't it? Because unless you're prepared, you do not want it to come. So those who eagerly await Christ's return, those who love His appearing. Now, how many of us only love Christ's appearing, you know, when we are facing a difficult exam? 'Ah, God better call me now. I want to go now. I'm prepared to die now.'
Why? Because we/re actually you're not, not really loving Christ's appearing. You just want to escape the difficult exam. So that what is it means here? Well, you are loving His return because you are prepared. You have lived a life that is honouring before Him.
No, whatever you do towards your family, towards your colleague at work, your classmate in school, or to one another in church, you have done your best. Following the leading of the Spirit, serving without men's praise, only aim for God's praise. So you have done it. So you're all prepared to wait for the Lord's coming. You desire Him to come. You're prepared for His coming. But if you are not done well, you will not desire His coming.
Well, in Singapore, we have to do army. We have to go to the army. So I was in the army for two years, and in these two years of service I was posted to Taiwan for nine months. I mean, nine months, not too long, not too short. But nine months away from home and then nine months without a church to attend. So you can feel homesick. This period of time is when I cherished all the Lord's Day in church after I return. So the Lord also taught me, of course, it's nine months without church now, without going to church to worship.
There's no internet, nothing. So I have to always help myself at a quiet corner. Worship the Lord, read the Bible, pray and sing the hymns, all on my own for nine months. So when I return to Singapore, wow, I begin to cherish all the Lord's Day worship, to prepare myself to worship the Lord. In fact, my life is, I'm always in church on the Lord's Day. There's no looking forward to go home. Usually one of the last to leave the church.
So your life is already given to the Lord. Your yearning, the nine months when I was in Taiwan, I long to go home. I long to be with my loved one. You know that kind of yearning. And in those days, we write letters. So I know my wife, she was there, my girlfriend. So she wrote a letter to me every day. Every day I have a letter and my duty at the camp in Taiwan was also a postman. So I go to the post office to collect the mail for the whole camp. Well, sometimes there were no other mail, but I will always have a letter. So they say, 'I'm a postman for my own letter.' Well, I always look forward to the letter.
The kind of yearning, it's different from looking at photos. You know, of course we have photographs. But to read from the letter is very precious because it's updated. It is a new letter every day. So you look forward, you have this yearning.
Do we have this yearning for Christ to return? Well, Apostle Paul, he had this yearning. Not that he wanted to escape the martyrdom, but he had the honour to bear this testimony for Christ. And to see Christ is what he longed for. He will soon meet his Lord and Saviour. He love His appearing.
Because when we one day, you know, arrive at the throne of our Lord and our Saviour Jesus Christ, we will no longer suffer. We will be with Christ forever and ever. It will be worth it.
When we see Christ? Wow. That is the end. There is the end. The end of the new beginning. I hope all of us will long, not because we hate life on earth, but because want to be with our Lord, which is far better, far better. And that is our reward. So we look for more than just the crown of righteousness, but rather the rewarder of the reward.
In Revelation 22:4 says,”'they shall see His face.” So we shall see His face. Now it will be a face-to-face. We will meet our Saviour face to face. Do we long to see His face? His face of mercy, His face of grace? That would be our ultimate joy. I hope we do not long to see the street of gold and the gates of pearl, but rather to be in the presence of our Lord.
In fact, Paul expressed his desire in Philippians 1:23 to depart and “to be with Christ; which is far better.” He's not escaping from all this responsibility, all this suffering. To be with Christ is far better because that will also mean our mission on earth is done. And that will be the beginning of our eternity with our Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. So let us look forward to the coming of our Saviour.
Conclusion
Well the gift that God has promised is a wonderful gift. It may not be in terms of what we measured today by dollars and cents. It will be far better beyond our imagination. Whatever God gave will always be the best and much more for heavenly gifts.
We thank God for what He has provided. We are filled with thanksgiving. God knows exactly what we need and He bless us accordingly. But we do not let these things overtake Him or replace Him.
We always remember with gratitude. We always remember that this is the Lord's provision. Yes, the Lord may take them away, but our faith is still in Him. He knows best. And so therefore, even if He were to take away, we will not be bitter.
And that's what happened to Job, isn't it? The Lord blessed and the Lord taketh away. And he was able to say, "Blessed be the name of the Lord." So the things that the Lord has blessed us is not supposed to hold us back from our faithfulness towards Him. In fact, it is a test of our faith.
Are we willing to serve the Lord whatever it takes? How does this illustration about a child receiving money from his father? When a child has no ability to go out and work and then earn a living, so all the expenses, allowances all come from the father. The father works.
So how is the child going to remember the father's birthday, for example? The child will be using, you know, the expenses or the money or the allowances that are given by the father. And then he will buy something with the money and then he give it to the father. Will the father be calculative and say, This is my money. You're using my money to, to buy the gift for me. So what have you gave to me?'
The father will not, I hope. As for me, I will not be so calculative. 'You better remember all this that you owe me. The day when you go out to work, you must return all this money to me.' No, we won't do that.
But the father's heart is to bless the children selflessly, not with the intent that, 'Wow, one day he will repay me back.' I calculate already. I have a book that has all the account, all the expenses I spend on him, all the clothing, food, all written down. It is what he owe. No, I don't think any, any father who kept that book for all your children. I don't think so.
Maybe you keep a book to calculate how much you spend. Maybe the household. Well, that is fine to control your expenses. But not for a book to bring it out next time for your child or children to pay you back. No.
Similarly to God. Will God at the throne of grace and mercy call us to return all that we have owe Him? He knows that we can never repay Him, but He graciously, lovingly gave it all to us. And so when we give to Him, we give our life to Him, will He be pleased?
Surely He will be pleased. But it must be a life that is of obedience. Not a life that is, wasted on this world. Following after worldliness or covetousness, the things of this world. What have we lived for, for Christ? Nothing.
So the life will not honour God. But if we have done what we ought to be, obeying His word, just a life, the Lord will honour, the Lord will be pleased. So that when we stand before the righteous judge on that day, well, it will be a happy moment.
And so as Paul approached the end of his life, he knew, he knew beyond death that awaited him a glorious reward. So, “Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness.” So Paul have finished well. He had fought a good fight. He had finished the course and he has kept the faith. And he anticipated the reward that the Lord will give to him, the crown of righteousness. And this promise is not only for Paul but for everyone who look forward to His coming.
One day we will stand before the Lord. All our earthly achievement will fade away. All our earthly thing to our name will all be left behind. In fact, one day this world will be destroyed. And so when we stand before the Lord, will we be found faithful? Will we finish well? And so may the Lord help us that we may be found faithful.
Let us pray.
Our Father in heaven, we thank Thee for Thy word. Forgive us for all those times, how we have disobeyed Thee. How we have rebelled against Thy word and follow our own wicked heart. Our worldly mind to live our life in a way that we desire, following the world.
And Lord, we pray that Thou help us take heed of Thy word and repent, and to come before Thee to obey and to follow Thy word which Thou hast given to us. Help us, O Lord, to take the step of faith, to do that which is right in Thy sight, not fearing man, but to fear Thee and Thee alone.
And may we be found faithful when we meet our Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, face to face. That indeed we have finished well. How we have prepared to die, how we have fought a good fight, and how we will receive the crown of righteousness as Thou has promised.
Help us, O God, and we commit all this unto Thy loving hand. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
THE BOOK OF 2 TIMOTHYEncouraging the Spiritual SonEncouraging the Spiritual Son2 Timothy 1:1-5
Not Ashamed of Christ (Part 1)Not Ashamed of Christ (Part 1)2 Timothy 1:6-7
Not Ashamed of Christ (Part 2)Not Ashamed of Christ (Part 2)2 Timothy 1:8-12
Not Ashamed of Christ (Part 3)Not Ashamed of Christ (Part 3)2 Timothy 1:13-18
What Would You Want to Be in the New Year?What Would You Want to Be in the New Year?2 Timothy 2:1-7
Message 6: The Church & Disciple-makersMessage 6: The Church & Disciple-makers2 Timothy 2:2
Remember The ResurrectionRemember The Resurrection2 Timothy 2:8
Our Motivation for Serving SacrificiallyOur Motivation for Serving Sacrificially2 Timothy 2:8-13
The Importance of Bible StudyThe Importance of Bible Study2 Timothy 2:15
An Honourable Vessel Fit For The Master's Use (Part 2)An Honourable Vessel Fit For The Master's Use (Part 2)2 Timothy 2:20-22
An Honourable Vessel Fit for the Master's Use (Part 1)An Honourable Vessel Fit for the Master's Use (Part 1)2 Timothy 2:20-22
The Danger of Self LoveThe Danger of Self Love2 Timothy 3:1-4
Be Strong and CourageousBe Strong and Courageous2 Timothy 3:7
The Christian’s Defence Against Apostasy - Godly ExampleThe Christian’s Defence Against Apostasy - Godly Example2 Timothy 3:10
The Christian’s Defence Against Apostasy - Godly ConvictionThe Christian’s Defence Against Apostasy - Godly Conviction2 Timothy 3:11-15
Knowing Our Precious BibleKnowing Our Precious Bible2 Timothy 3:15-17
The Christian’s Defence Against Apostasy - God’s WordThe Christian’s Defence Against Apostasy - God’s Word2 Timothy 3:16-17
A Charge to KeepA Charge to Keep2 Timothy 4:1-5
Message 8: To Fight the Good Fight of Faith is to Always be Ready to Preach and Teach God’s WordMessage 8: To Fight the Good Fight of Faith is to Always be Ready to Preach and Teach God’s Word2 Timothy 4:2
Prepared To DiePrepared To Die2 Timothy 4:6
Live as I Have LivedLive as I Have Lived2 Timothy 4:6-8
Fought A Good FightFought A Good Fight2 Timothy 4:7
Receiving The CrownReceiving The Crown2 Timothy 4:8
Are you Faithful or Unfaithful?Are you Faithful or Unfaithful?2 Timothy 4:9-11
Are you Faithful or Unfaithful? (Part 2)Are you Faithful or Unfaithful? (Part 2)2 Timothy 4:12-16
Notwithstanding the Lord Stood with MeNotwithstanding the Lord Stood with Me2 Timothy 4:17-22
