The Imperishable Crown

The Imperishable Crown, (1 Corinthians 9:24 through 25) “Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate [disciplined] in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown” (NKJV). All things on this earth are subject to decay and will perish. Jesus urges us to not store our treasures on earth “where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal” (Matthew 6:19). This is analogous to what Paul was saying about that wreath of leaves that was soon to turn brittle and fall apart. But not so the heavenly crown; faithful endurance wins a heavenly reward which is “an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you” (1 Peter 1:4). When Paul wrote this, he had in mind the Pan-Hellenic stadium near Corinth where the Isthmian games were held. The winner was given a laurel wreath that quickly withered away. Paul observed these highly trained athletes and noted the spiritual parallel. This imperishable crown is reserved for those who in this life, have overcome the desires of the soul and the flesh. Those who were temperate in all things, and who lived a life of self-control and discipline. Not the discipline of this world that is earthly, sensual, or that puffs up. Not a discipline that proceeds from the spirit of bondage, or that is arrogant, prideful, or self-promoting, but a discipline that focuses on overcoming with grace, unto life, and that allows us to be continuously shaped into the likeness of our Savior. This crown is reserved for those who did not disqualify themselves by living in a way that negated the power of grace to overcome whatever desires, temptations, habits, or iniquitous patterns that tried to conquer and rule them, but that fought, drawing on the power and authority that Christ afforded us through His death, resurrection, and indwelling. The imperishable crown is for those who wrestled and pulled (violently if necessary) on the ways of the Kingdom and allowed those ways to shape their lives and renew their thinking. It is for those who most likely had to keep getting back up, time and time again. But they remained persistent, ruthless, enduring the training over and over until they had persevered and had absolute victory. This crown is for those who didn’t run aimlessly, beating at the air as Paul says, throwing purposeless punches, but who aimed and were intentional. Who recognized that to live in bondage to anything is not what we were designed for. The crown is called imperishable, (aphthartos in the Greek) meaning incorruptible, a victor’s crown, not liable to decay, because it identifies those who traded the temporal for the eternal. They didn’t flaunt or indulge their liberties. They didn’t trade their spiritual, eternal inheritance for a quick bowl of their favorite lentil soup. They didn’t base their decisions based on what was allowable, but instead chose what was profitable. Both for their sakes and the sake of others. Those who receive this crown will be those who conquered their will and brought it into subjection of the Spirit. Video Resources: https://youtu.be/7ISGwpCY3i8?feature=shared https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwdWLzUmCnsbW6UcBVDyVP_f0wQB7cpPg&feature=shared