14. The Crown of Life

 •  1 min. read  •  grade level: 6
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“Ada’s” contribution has come to hand. We have always regarded “the crown of life” (James 1:1212Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. (James 1:12)) as a future thing. The time of trial cannot be considered as over, so long as we are down here. In one sense, we are “seated in the heavenlies” (Eph. 2); but, in another sense, we are in the place of trial and conflict on the earth. The expression “tried,” in James 1:1212Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. (James 1:12), has nothing to do with “judgment,” as our correspondent seems to think. We believe it refers simply to the trial one has to endure while passing through the wilderness, and going onward to our heavenly rest, where “the crown of life” awaits us. The believer can never come into “judgment,” as regards his person, because Christ was judged in his stead. (See John 5:2424Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. (John 5:24), where the word is “judgment,” and not “condemnation.”) His works will be judged, but not himself. (See 1 Cor. 3:13; 213Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. (1 Corinthians 3:13) Cor. 5:10.) If we were to be judged, we should assuredly be condemned and lost forever. “Enter not into judgment with Thy servant, O Lord; for in Thy sight shall no flesh living be justified.”