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Pastor's Blog February 17, 2022
"How Many Stars?"
Traditionally, Adventists have loved to talk about crowns in preparation for the second coming of Jesus. We enjoy discussing how many stars, jewels, and other accoutrements our crowns will gloriously hold. But Paul tells us the real crown to have - and therefore the best way to prepare for the return of Jesus - is to focus on our relationships.
In 1 Thessalonians 2:19, Paul asks rhetorically, "For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you?" (NIV). The phrase "crown in which we will glory" literally means "crown of boasting" in Greek. It combines two images into one: the crown or wreath that the athlete would receive for winning the official games (much like our Olympic sporting events); and the idea of throwing a great party or celebration for a significant accomplishment or victory, over which you have boasting and bragging rights.
Paul is claiming that the second coming will be a massive celebration, at which time we will be rewarded with a crown and be able to revel in the final victory we get to experience! But the victor's crown we receive at the second coming is not headgear but people. As Paul makes clear from the context of 1 Thessalonians 2:17-20, the reward Jesus gives us for preparing for his second coming is...each other: all the people we have loved, prayed for, encouraged, and supported as we have invested in a friendship with them and attempted to show them Jesus in a winsome manner.
Friends, the best way to view eternal rewards in light of Jesus' soon return is to see each other as our reward, which Jesus will give.
God bless,
Pastor Nathaniel Gamble
