“The man that endureth” under trials and testings, who suffers patiently, will have due reward at the judgment seat of Christ, “when he is tried,” for it is written of us Christians that “every 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.” And for the enduring believer, “when he is tried,” then “he shall receive the crown of life.” This is not eternal life itself, for we do not earn that by enduring; we receive it as a gift. “The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord,” and “he that hath the Son hath life.” It is rather “the crown of life,” a reward for faithfulness under trial, “which the Lord hath promised to them that love Him,” for there must be such love in our hearts to enable us to be “rejoicing that” we are “counted worthy to suffer shame for His name,” and “if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God,” for “all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” |