You Can’t Wear A Crown Without Bearing Your Cross

Recently my pastor preached a sermon where he used the phrase which is the title of this article. The Christian life was never meant to be easy, though there are those who want to make it that way by advocating prosperity doctrine or name it-claim it teaching.

Luke 9:23 Jesus tells us “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”  When I think of that verse it reminds me of Jesus being made to carry the burden of his cross on which he would die, on his shoulders on his way to his crucifixion.

Bearing one’s cross can mean lots of different things. Some examples might be physical afflictions, religious persecution, dealing with difficult people, poverty, unresolved conflict, negative and destructive circumstances that will not change, or anything that is a burden in one’s life.

How does the Bible define taking up your cross? The above verse begins with self-denial and ends with following Jesus. The big long  Greek word for “deny” means “refuse to follow.” Follow what? Your own desires and expectations apart from God, which can result in disappointments, broken dreams, heartaches, and setbacks. Deny yourself of the temporal things in life that will not bring fulfillment, that have no purpose.

To follow Jesus results in a life of purpose and meaning, being in the will of God, and an abundant life. The abundant life (John 10:10) does not so much mean a life of prosperity, but rather one of peace, hope, and purpose.

However, to experience what the life of following Jesus has to offer one must persevere against the hardships, ridicule, rejection, and religious persecution that it will entail, and all the other things the secular culture throws at Christians.

The Bible tells us that while we persevere against all these trials in the process of following Jesus, that crowns await us as part of our eternal presence in heaven. Romans 8:18 says, “We consider the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with glory that is to be revealed to us.”

There are four crowns that Christians can wear as a result of perseverance in bearing your cross:

James 1:12 says, “Blessed is the one who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.”

1 Thessalonians 2:19 says there is “crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming.” This is sometimes referred to as the soul winner’s crown.

2 Timothy 4:8 speaks of a “crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award on that day…to all who have loved his appearing.”

1 Peter 5:4 talks about the “unfading crown of glory.”

What a reward for bearing your crosses of life!

“Lord, help us, as Christians, to bear up under trying circumstances, but not just for our crowns. May we be a testimony to others of your saving grace, so that they will also come to know you as their personal Savior. We pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.”