"I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown." (Rev 3:11) .
Have you ever heard the expression: no cross, no crown? I was only a teenager when I first heard that famous phrase, but the effect and severity of the message it conveys was not lost on me. It is amazing that such two striking opposites could have such an amazing relationship.
The cross and the crown! The cross represents the suffering, pains, discomfort, sacrifice, self denial, etc that one has to endure on life. The crown, on the other hand, represents the joy, fulfillment, reward, glory, enthronement, etc that one wishes for in life. The unmistakable message here is that you can't have the crown unless you first have the cross.
Unfortunately, today's Christianity has learnt to place less and less emphasis on the cross and the suffering that it bears, but this has not in any of any diminished the power of the cross or negated the fact that the cross must come before the crown. Jesus said, whosoever will follow me must first take up his cross (Matt 16:24 ). Paul said if we suffer with him, then we will reign with him (2 Tim 2:12)
Are you passing through any difficulty or pain? Are you having to endure any cross? Rejoice, because it means you are on the right path. The next thing for you is the crown! Receive it in Jesus name.