“Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.” Revelation 3:11
What are we living for, and what are we willing to give up along the way? It is easy to become so focused on the things happening right in front of us that we lose sight of eternity. But Scripture reminds us that this life is not all there is. One day, every one of us will stand before Jesus, and the choices we make today will matter. Darren challenges us to live with that day in mind and to hold firmly to the faith we have been given.
In Revelation 3:11, Jesus speaks to the faithful church in Philadelphia and tells them to hold fast to what they have so that no one can take their crown. He gives a similar promise to the suffering church in Smyrna, encouraging them to remain faithful even through persecution, with the promise of the crown of life. These churches remind us that following Jesus requires perseverance. Whether we face opposition, hardship, temptation, or simply the distractions of everyday life, we are called to remain faithful to Him.
The crown represents the eternal reward believers will receive when they stand before Christ. Paul understood this as he approached the end of his life. In 2 Timothy 4:7-8, he wrote that he had fought the good fight, finished the race, and kept the faith. He looked forward to receiving the crown of righteousness from Jesus, the righteous Judge. Paul endured tremendous suffering because his eyes were fixed on something greater than the temporary circumstances of this life. He knew that serving Jesus was worth everything.
Darren explains that salvation is a free gift of God's grace through Jesus Christ. We cannot earn our salvation, but that does not mean our choices are unimportant. Second Corinthians 5:9-10 teaches that our aim should be to please the Lord because we will all appear before the judgment seat of Christ. This is not a judgment to determine whether believers will enter heaven, but a time when our work for the Lord will be evaluated. First Corinthians 3:12-15 describes how our work will be tested, revealing whether it has lasting value. What we do for Jesus matters, and Darren encourages us to live in a way that produces something that will endure.
But we must also be careful not to let anything cheat us out of our reward. Colossians 2:18 warns believers not to allow anyone to disqualify them or take their reward. We can be distracted by false teaching, the pursuit of spiritual experiences, the influence of others, or the desire to fit in with the world. Even the people closest to us can sometimes discourage us from following Jesus wholeheartedly. We must keep our eyes on Christ, remain connected to His Church, and refuse to trade our devotion to Him for temporary pleasures or approval from others.
The story of Esau offers a sobering picture of this danger. In Genesis 25, he traded his birthright for a meal because he was consumed by his immediate hunger. In the same way, we can allow a temporary desire, an addiction, a relationship, or a moment of pleasure to take priority over what matters eternally. Darren reminds us that the crown is not worth surrendering for anything this world has to offer. When we stumble, we must not give up. We can repent, get back up, and keep pursuing Jesus.
Ultimately, the crown is not about our own glory. In Revelation 4:10-11, the twenty-four elders fall before God's throne, cast their crowns before Him, and worship the One who alone is worthy of all glory, honor, and power. The reward Jesus gives us becomes an offering of worship to Him. Everything good we have done has been made possible by His grace and mercy, and all the glory belongs to Him.
The first step toward this eternal reward is surrendering our lives to Jesus. From there, we continue to follow Him, lay aside whatever pulls us away from Him, and live each day with eternity in view. We are not simply trying to get through life. We are running a race, keeping the faith, and pursuing the life Jesus has called us to live. Hold fast to Him. Don't let the distractions of this world steal your focus, and don't trade what lasts forever for something that will soon pass away. Keep your eyes on Jesus, remain faithful to the end, and run for the crown.
