Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing (2 Tim. 4:8).
On one occasion when Father Taylor, the evangelical preacher, was preaching from this text, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness," he suddenly stopped, and looking up to heaven, cried out with a loud voice, "Paul, are there any more crowns there?" Then, turning to the congregation, he said, "Yes, friends, there are many more crowns left. They have not all been taken. Blessed be God, there is one for me, and one for all of you who love the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ."
The apostle in chains had appeared before an unrighteous judge who had condemned him unjustly, but he knew that someday the righteous judge, even the Lord Jesus Christ, would give him his true reward--a crown of righteousness, and not to him only, but to all those who love our Lord's appearing.
The Mamertine Prison, in which the apostle may have written this last letter of his, is still damp. cold, and dreary; but the light of this wonderful promise has lit the hearts of millions through the darkest valleys of life, and will continue to illuminate the world to the end of time.
The Lord is my light, my all and in all;
There is in His sight no darkness at all;
He is my redeemer, my Savior and King;
With saints and with angels His praises I sing.
__James Nicholson
MEDITATION PRAYER: "And as for me, thou upholdest me in thine integrity, and settest me before thy face for ever" (Ps. 41:12).
On one occasion when Father Taylor, the evangelical preacher, was preaching from this text, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness," he suddenly stopped, and looking up to heaven, cried out with a loud voice, "Paul, are there any more crowns there?" Then, turning to the congregation, he said, "Yes, friends, there are many more crowns left. They have not all been taken. Blessed be God, there is one for me, and one for all of you who love the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ."
The apostle in chains had appeared before an unrighteous judge who had condemned him unjustly, but he knew that someday the righteous judge, even the Lord Jesus Christ, would give him his true reward--a crown of righteousness, and not to him only, but to all those who love our Lord's appearing.
The Mamertine Prison, in which the apostle may have written this last letter of his, is still damp. cold, and dreary; but the light of this wonderful promise has lit the hearts of millions through the darkest valleys of life, and will continue to illuminate the world to the end of time.
The Lord is my light, my all and in all;
There is in His sight no darkness at all;
He is my redeemer, my Savior and King;
With saints and with angels His praises I sing.
__James Nicholson
MEDITATION PRAYER: "And as for me, thou upholdest me in thine integrity, and settest me before thy face for ever" (Ps. 41:12).
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