The Benefits of Loving God, Part 7: The Crown of Life
(James 1:12 NKJV) “Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.”
We see here that another crown God promises to those who love him is the “crown of life.” But this passage also says that it goes to “the man who endures temptation.” This implies strongly that those who truly love God will endure and overcome in temptation—without their faith failing (See: Luke 22:32). In other words, when God has assessed and approved them in trials, testings, and temptations, he will award them this crown. Are you ready for that?
(1 Peter 1:6-7 NLT) So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while. (7) These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.
(1 Corinthians 3:13 NLT) But on the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person’s work has any value.
The idea conveyed in both these passages is that God is looking for proof of purity—in our faith, holiness, love, and works—with a view to determining whether we are worthy to be received, praised, and given glory and honor when Jesus returns.
Wisdom Tests Before Receiving Those Who Want Access:
(1 John 4:1 NLT) Dear friends, do not believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit. You must test them to see if the spirit they have comes from God. For there are many false prophets in the world.
This passage tells us to use God’s wisdom before we receive just any “spirit” via anyone claiming to be speaking for God. He wisely tests to see who he will receive; we should definitely do the same: “You must test them to see …” Therefore, the idea of testing someone before receiving them is from God: he tells us to do it with those wanting access to our fellowship, hearts, and lives; he does it with us before granting us access to his eternal kingdom and giving us the crown of life. The testing associated with this crown is an approval test to see if the person is worthy of being received. This is a vital point to remember: God proves us this way before receiving us, and he tells us to prove “prophets” before receiving them.
If you successfully endure temptation and pass all of God’s proof tests—by faith in his grace—you will receive the crown associated with life. We get the crown when Jesus returns, but “life” is not just something we receive on judgment day. It implies that God will receive you into his confidence here and now, and that he will continue to speak his living words into your heart. Those very words are the carriers of life:
(John 6:63 EMTV) “It is the Spirit who makes alive; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.
God will receive those who love him, and who therefore show themselves approved in tests, trials, and temptations. Life will flow to and through them from God via his word in this life. And then, when it concludes, they will receive the crown of life as an eternal reward—a confirmation that they pushed through to receive God’s overcoming life-giving words in every challenging situation.
To receive this benefit, you must determine that you will win every battle with temptation and evil, and that you will endure all tests, and overcome in every trial. This is not easy, but it is possible. Love for God is the motivation you need.
So no matter what test, trial, or temptation you are undergoing today, be resolute to break through to hearing his voice. Refuse to quit or back down from the fight. You can win. Love God, love his appearing, and show your love is pure by joyfully going through the fire of trial. Remember, the fire is burning all of the unacceptable dross out of your life; it will leave you with purified faith and approved status:
(James 1:2-4 NLT) Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. (3) For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. (4) So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.
(1 Peter 1:7 MSG) Pure gold put in the fire comes out of it proved pure; genuine faith put through this suffering comes out proved genuine. When Jesus wraps this all up, it’s your faith, not your gold, that God will have on display as evidence of his victory.
The crown of life is a very worthwhile benefit from loving God wholeheartedly in this life.