M2M (Missionary to Missionary): The Crown(s)

^Rev.8And the four living creatures, individually having six wings, were full of eyes all over and within [underneath their wings]; and day and night they never stop saying, Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty (Omnipotent), Who was and Who is and Who is to come. ⁹And whenever the living creatures offer glory and honor and thanksgiving to Him Who sits on the throne, Who lives forever and ever (through the eternities of the eternities), ¹⁰The twenty-four elders (the members of the heavenly Sanhedrin) fall prostrate before Him Who is sitting on the throne, and they worship Him Who lives forever and ever; and they throw down their crowns before the throne, crying out, ¹¹Worthy are You, our Lord and God, to receive the glory and the honor and dominion, for You created all things; by Your will they were [brought into being] and were created. (AMP)

Crown: the royal authority given tot he victorious co-heirs of Christ.

When I was a young girl we used to play a game called ‘capture the princess’. I was one of only a couple girls that played, so I always got to be the princess. I had a cardboard crown and sword. There was a gulley with a hill on either side. On one side were the paupers and on the other side was the Royal Family. The King’s men were to keep the other guys from getting up the hill and stealing the princess. If they got through the warriors, they would take the crown, throw it on the ground to denounce her royal position and she would become a pauper. I fought for that crown as much as any of the others, grabbing it back, picking it up off the ground; I screamed and kicked as they took me to the other side of the gulley. I wanted to stay a princess. My status, my worth, my significance during that game was that I was a princess. Losing was really not an option.

I still feel that way. I am a princess of the One, True God. Losing out to the enemy is not an option. I fight to find my value in Christ rather than the world. Often Lucifer tries to get the best of me through pride, title-seeking, self-importance or the desire to be needed. I want to cling to my crown. Sometimes I long for the physical sound of applause and ‘bravo’s’. As God shared this word with me, I began thinking specifically about the elders 'casting (to shed or throw) their crowns (headdress of royalty, achievement, title or victory) on the throne.

An act of adoration, they fell down before him. Crowns flying in the air, abandoned at His feet. No longer needed was the thing that made them great while living in the world. No Kingdom, no riches no man's validation; a willing surrender of their authority in light of the worthiness of God as Creator. What is perishable in life is imperishable in eternity (1Cor 9:25).

At His feet, they found all humility, reverence and Godly fear. All Glory owed to Him as they acknowledge that "His crown is infinitely more glorious than theirs and that it is their glory to be glorifying God" (Matthew Henry). They now, as we will will one day, wear the crown of righteousness (2Tim4:8), crown of life (Jms1:12) & the crown of glory (1Peter5:4), yet still throw them at the throne of God knowing they can give Him nothing but owe Him all.

During service today we sang "I'd rather have Jesus" summing up my thoughts of the past few days.

"I'd rather have Jesus than silver or gold;

I'd rather be His than have riches untold;

I'd rather have Jesus than houses or lands;

I'd rather be led by His nail-pierced hand.

Than to be the king of a vast domain

and be held in sin's dread sway;

I'd rather have Jesus than anything

This world affords today.

I'd rather have Jesus than men's applause;

I'd rather be faithful to His dear cause;

I'd rather have Jesus than worldwide fame;