The crown here is not the priestly mitre that Aaron the high-priest wore into the sanctuary; nor the " fair mitre " put on the head of Joshua Zech. 3:); nor is it the crown which rests by faith upon the head of every saint-God's free and individual gift to every sinner saved by grace. Every saved soul is a priest before God. Ye are "a holy priesthood" (i Pet. 2:5). How sweet to think that every child of God is a priest by birth as well as a child by birth! Ah, beloved brethren, there will be no brow in heaven upon which no crown will set! ' 'And upon the four and twenty thrones I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold."
This crown is scarcely the one alluded to in our verse.
Nor is it the crown of life promised to the faithful martyr (Rev. 2:10); nor to "them that love him" (James 1:12); nor the " crown of glory "which the prudent elder shall receive at the chief Shepherd's appearing (i Pet. 5:4); nor is it the crown of righteousness which the Lord the righteous judge shall give unto His faithful apostle in that day, and not unto him only, but unto all who love His appearing (2:Tim. 4:8). No, it is none of these.
Indeed, there is no name given it. It is a nameless crown. "Hold fast that which thou hast, that no man take thy crown." The exhortation tests, not so much character, as one's confidence in God. Do I know my Father ? Knowing my Father, I can then see the end from the beginning. Those sons cultivating that farm through all manner of toil, enduring all manner of weariness, bringing in all manner of fruit in its season, know their father. They know, at the end of the toil of obedience, that father's voice will be heard in fullest approval; and so, moved by this sweet incentive, they go on in simplest contentment to the end.
Cannot I trust my Father ? Ah yes, for I know His love. This was proven by the cross. "For God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son." And now I have His confidence, and He has committed to my keeping His Name and His words ; and at the end I know He has something suitable for me. A crown it is, surely; but it is nameless. Perhaps to name it would but tarnish its luster ; and though nameless, it may for that very reason shine out far above and beyond all crowns that are named, in its resplendency.
To whom, then, is this crown given, and what order of hand is it that holds it fast ?
Notice, it is not the glamour of success according to man's measure that secures it. Some of those who have the greatest success in bringing men openly to confess the name of Jesus refuse to take the humble position His name and word would give them, not having the simple confidence blind Bartimeus had to follow " Jesus in the way " (Mark 10:52). No, beloved brethren, let us not deceive ourselves, and be carried away with the false and illusive thought that this nameless crown of our text is obtained by such success. Witness an apostle's success :He walked in perpetual triumph among men, "making manifest the savor of His knowledge in every place," being thus "a sweet savor of Christ unto God " (2 Cor. 1:14-16). And what unparalleled success he achieved! The sad record is, that '' All they in Asia be turned away from me;"and" Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world " (2 Tim. 1:15; and 4:10).It is a crown obtained, not by success, but by holding fast His name and His word. The apostle won it:Demas lost it. This present world cheated him out of it. The world became his master. He loved his master's voice; and losing confidence in his Lord, he forgot the exhortation, gave up that precious name and word, and here in this life surrendered that crown and the joy of that blessed hope. "Shall it be mine?" may we not each say. Why should we be here to-day, few and feeble as we are, were it not that He hath committed to our keeping His name and His word ?What honor is this ! Think you He is indifferent to it ?Shall our Lord ever put to shame the confidence that holds fast these things that touch His honor ? Why should the name and glory of this present world for an instant charm our souls, since His voice declares,'' I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee" (Rev. 3:9)?These are not "idle words."I know my Father; and here is one of His promises that "hath great recompense of reward" (Heb. 10:35):"Behold, I come quickly:, hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown."Shall we cast it away, and lose that nameless crown, through love of this present evil world ?
How blest are they who overcome, and, as in Laodicea, sit down with Him in His throne, wearing that crown on their brow, and thus enter in fully with Him into His joy! W. H. J.
April 1st, 1894.