“For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up 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 loved His appearing.” – ‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭4‬:‭6‬-‭8‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬

Two things stand out to me here: one being the promise expressed. The other is the path to attaining the promise.

The promise Paul possessed here is the attainment of “the crown of righteousness.” There are numerous crowns for the faithful mentioned in scripture, each having a path to obtaining it for those eligible to receive it. Many believe we, like the elders in Revelation, will one day cast those crowns at the feet of Jesus.

When I was younger, immature in the ways of humility, that thought bothered me. I wanted to keep what I earned. Growing in humility, I realize more and more that I truly can do nothing of eternal worth apart from the work of Christ in me. I can’t recall specifics now, but something happened in me about 10 years ago that filled my heart with joy at the thought of casting my crowns before Him who truly deserves them.

If that is a true picture of standing before Him in heaven, casting our crowns before Him; then, here on earth, heaven being in us who are saved by grace, being baptized into Christ, can enjoy casting crowns to Him now. I praise God for the privilege of surrendering all crowns to Him right now in my day to day life, just as I will when I stand at Heaven‘s throne. He is Lord of lords and King of kings. I bow to His rule and give Him glory, surrendering all that I am or ever hope to be to Him who is worthy. He gets full credit for any good in me, and for every success for the Kingdom worked through me. And I strive to walk the path to each crown available to me, joyously casting them before Him as I go. This crown of righteousness is one I strive for each day. And here is the path to it.

The path:

Knowing that each crown has its path to obtaining it; we just have to stop and take time to discern the path in the instructions given. This means that we must be students of God’s Word, writing it on our hearts, meditating on it daily, not only in group studies, but in personal study. Here, in Paul’s proclamation, we see the path he walked to his crown of righteousness, giving us instruction as to how we must live.

1: “I have fought the good fight….”

There is instruction throughout scripture that tells us how to fight the good fight of our faith. Just off the top of my head is Ephesians 6:10-18’s instructions on how we are to stand firm against evil by putting on the armor of God that is available to us, including being always in prayer for ourselves, one another, and our spiritual leaders/warriors. To put on this armor, we need to study each piece and learn of its meaning and function. We cannot put on the helmet of salvation, the breastplate of righteousness, or the belt of truth if we don’t understand how to come under Christ’s saving grace, what righteousness and truth are, and how to live these out.

Then there’s Colossians 3:1-17 that instructs in two major areas. First, we are to “set your minds and keep them set on the things above where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God” (AMPC). We are now and forevermore citizens of God’s Kingdom, tasked to truly represent Christ’s interests on earth. To do that, we must not let our souls (thoughts, will, and emotions) get trapped in worldly pursuits. We must seek God’s will, intent on accomplishing it in His way, always motivated by His purposes.

Second is the call of God for us to take off the old man described in verse 5-11, and put on the new creation God has placed in us. Verses 12-17 tell us how to do that. Study that passage. Seek Father for its fulfillment in you. Be intentional in striving for it.

There are many more such passages and we are instructed by God to study it out so that we may be approved (2 Timothy 2:15). Get in the Word daily for these life changing insights. If you are new to Bible reading and study, we are people of the New Testament (NT) Covenant. Start reading in the NT. I’ll post a plan of reading in the comments to help you get started. (If I forget, remind me.)

2: “I have finished the course…”

We are frequently encouraged throughout scripture to practice endurance and perseverance in the things of God, standing firm in them (Ephesians 6:10-12); persevering in hope (Romans 5:3-5); striving to win the prize laid up for us in heaven (1 Corinthians 9:23-27). This road is not easy and there are many evils that challenge our perseverance and chance our loss of reward. But stand we must, over and over and over again. Thankfully, God has provided for times when we fall: calling us to turn back to Him in repentance. Getting up from there, we dust off, and press forward to the goal.

3: “I have kept the faith.”

The word “faith” is used in two main ways throughout scripture. One is the faith described as “the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). It is that which is in us that equips us to believe God, and taking Him at His Word, to live in hope; to hear the promises and trust God’s faithfulness to His word.

The second is the belief system in which we walk. We are Christian, putting our confidence in God and His Word, coming into covenant agreement with God through Christ, and walking in obedience to the faith covenant we made with Him because we love him and desire our union to stand strong. This faith hears Paul’s words to us and perks our ears to attention. Listening for instruction that gives us the “how to,” we choose to walk the path as he did. Striving to keep the covenant agreement with Christ, knowing that as we fight the good fight of faith, persevering to finish the course, and as we keep the tenants of God’s Instruction Manuel (the Holy Bible), we set our course to receive the promise of the crown.

Our faith in God’s promise that we can obtain a crown we cannot yet see is accomplished as we follow in the covenant agreement of the faith we have become part of in Christ. Ours is not a religion: it is a Faith.

Paul’s proclamation, “I have kept the faith,” means this second defining parameter of living in covenant agreement. He has faithfully maintained his covenant with Christ, walking in His instruction for Christian living laid out in God’s Word. In other words, Paul obeyed Jesus, proving his love of Christ, who appeared to us for the sole purpose of drinking the cup we could not drink so we could possess the eternal life we would otherwise not have hope of living.

“If you love Me, you will keep My commandments” (John 14:15).

Our part of the promise:

“…in the future there is laid up 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 LOVED HIS APPEARING.”

We love the appearing of Him who made The Way, so that we may truly Live. I don’t know about you, but I am determined to walk this life with God because I love Him in all His Triune glory. HE IS OUR EXCEEDINGLY GREAT REWARD. And He gave His Son to provide for us a path on which we may gain that blessed reward. If we get nothing else, we get Him!

The attainment of many crowns is a plus I strive toward for the great joy of casting them at the Holy Feet of Jesus Christ. Study to be approved, beloved, and let’s walk this life together.