LET NO MAN TAKE THY CROWN
by Vance Havner
We rejoice that He is able to keep that which we have committed unto Him against that day, and we do not have to keep ourselves; we are kept. But we do have a trust; we are stewards o f the grace o f God; we have the message o f the Gospel and the privilege o f witnessing to it. Paul says the Gospel was committed to his trust (I Tim. 1:11) and admonishes Timothy, “ Keep that which is committed to thy trust” (I Tim. 6 :20 ). The church here in Philadelphia had a little strength, had kept the Word o f the Lord, had not denied His Name and had kept the word o f His patience. A precious term that is, “ The word o f My pa tience.” The Christians in Philadelphia were not very strong but they were faithful in a dark and dreary day when there seemed to be little to en courage the soul. They were kept in the persecu tions that followed, according to His promise. We are to be patient in these days o f apostasy when iniquity abounds and the love o f many waxes cold and it is so difficult to stir up the g ift o f God and
"B ehold , I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown99 (R ev . 3 :1 1 ) . I T is OUR BLESSED L ord H im s e l f who speaks here to the faithful saints in Philadelphia. The text opens with the precious promise o f His soon return: “ Behold, I come quickly.” Again and again in the New Testament His return is always joined with a practical call to duty. “ The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works o f darkness, and let us put on the armour of light” (Rom. 13:12). “ Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner o f persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godli ness” (II Peter 3 :11 ). “ He that hath this hope in him purifieth himself even as he is pure” (I John 3 :3 ). So here against the radiant background o f the Blessed Hope, we are admonished by the Coming Lord Himself: “ Hold that fast which thou hast.”
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