THE PRIZE AWAITS

2 Timothy 4:7-8 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. And now the prize awaits me - the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing.

Have you ever entered a competition for a prize thinking you’d probably never win it? I went to a presentation about Dairy Foods once and the seat I sat on had a number on it. Suddenly my seat number was called out and I won a huge cream gateau which was amazing, but I won the prize by just sitting on the seat!😊

Our prize comes, not when our number is called out, but because we put our faith in Jesus, because we fought the good fight of faith, and when we finish our race. How wonderful to know that prize is certain and sure, and it will be given to us the day Jesus comes back for us, to those who are expecting and looking forward to His return.

Psalm 103 tells us that we have been crowned already with lovingkindness and God’s favour, but on the day Jesus comes back we will be given the crown of righteousness. We’ve already been given His righteousness as a gift to wear every day of our earthly lives like a breastplate, but on that day there will be the crown that goes with it. We’ll have the complete outfit and what a glorious day it will be.😊

We won’t have deserved any of it, all the glory will go to our Saviour and Redeemer the Lord Jesus who did it all, and gave it all for us. What a day that will be!

Can I encourage us all today, to eagerly look forward to Jesus’ appearing, to the moment of His return, to fight the good fight of faith and never give up, to finish our race with faithfulness in our hearts, rooted and grounded in our Saviour’s great love for us. 

I believe He’s looking forward to that day even more eagerly than we are. Hallelujah! Praise His name. Amen.

Photo by Aneta Voborilova on Unsplash