We are preparing for another trip to California. Two long trips in less than a month! With Easter Season in between. This time it will be attending Grandparents’ Day and some baseball games. We are looking forward to seeing our California family again. They bring us such joy.
Of course, to get there we must travel about 645 miles. That’s the not-as-joyful part of the trip. But if we want to hug our kids and grandsons, we’ll even embrace the travel and make the most of that. The rewards come at the end of the journey, not always in the middle.
Paul, in his last letter, anticipated the time had come for his departure. He must have known that he would not be released from prison this time, that instead, he would be martyred for his faith in Christ Jesus. As he faced the end of his journey, he reminded himself, Timothy, and us, that the rewards come at the end. He defined that reward as a crown.
The NT of our Bible speaks of several different crowns for the faithful. As Paul faced the end of his life, a life lived well for the Gospel of Jesus Christ, he thought about one of those crowns, the Crown of Righteousness.
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day-and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.” [2 Tim 4:7-8 NIV]
Imagine that! We will receive a crown at the end of our journey, one given to those who anxiously wait and long for the return of the LORD Jesus Christ. “Amen, come quickly, Lord Jesus!”