If you are thinking of a jewel encrusted gold crown, you need to remember that I am just a retired government employee, with a tooth that needed a lot of help. My tooth had been repaired more than once, but never looked right. Then the dentist offered to give me a crown! “Give” might not be the right word, since the crown cost me a lot of money. The dentist removed the damaged part of my tooth and fitted me with a temporary crown, while the permanent one was being made. The temporary looked and worked great, so why did they have to replace it? The temporary was made of inferior material and wouldn’t last long. I had to be careful, not eat hard food and couldn’t even floss around that tooth. It was easy to make and was good enough until the permanent crown was complete.
I was so happy when my crown was finally ready! It was worth the discomfort, time and money it took to get. After three weeks of being careful with the temporary, I was ready to get my permanent crown! It didn’t take long for the dentist to remove the temporary and install the permanent one, because most of the work had already been done. I didn’t even mind the time it took for the cement to setup or having to wait before I could eat and drink. I had my crown and with normal care, it will last forever!
Well not exactly forever. That will be another time and another crown. Someday I will get more than another crown; I will get a whole new body. Why will I need another body, when this one is good enough? Why will they have to replace it? This temporary body was made of inferior material and won’t last long. This body can easily be injured or be broken and causes me pain. I have to care for this body and nourish it to get the most from it, but someday this body will wear out and have to be replaced. The biggest problem is this body can die at any time and then where would I be? This body was wonderfully made and with proper care, should be good enough until I can exchange it for a better one. Does that sound strange to you?
I will trade this temporary body for a permanent one. Yes, I have found the secret to eternal life! I tried to live right and do my best for a while, but I could never get it right. I saw my life and even my body falling apart and could see my life story coming to a bad end. Then someone offered to give me a crown! I should clarify that He offered me much more than a crown! “God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16 KJV). That’s right, I have eternal life! What’s more, I have been adopted and now I am a child of GOD, with all the benefits that come with being a member of the Royal family. “So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then…Death is swallowed up in victory” (1 Cor 15:54 KJV). I will get a glorified body, mind and a renewed spirit!
How much will it cost? It cost more than I could ever pay. It cost the sinless blood of the LAMB of GOD! “Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing” (2 Tim 4:8 KJV). That is right, it cost a lot, but it’s a free gift to me!
Wayne Lance (2019)