Crowns Part One

“Crown him with many crowns, the Lamb upon his throne. Hark! how the heavenly anthem drowns all music but its own.”

This song is my favorite hymns and I was recently thrilled to learn that it has twelve verses! I’m going to be writing about them over the next several weeks and I hope it blesses your heart.

As many of you know, my Aunt is dying of cancer. The reality of death has been embodied before our eyes over the last several weeks. However, the closer we get to her death (barring miraculous healing which Jesus could still do), the more I have thought about life. I don’t mean this in the traditional sense of “live life to the fullest,” or even “tell those you love how much you love them,” although those can be good practices. No, I mean eternal life – the kind that was purchased on a bloody cross. Life that is made possible through death.

One day, we will all stand around Christ’s throne and cast our crowns at Jesus’ feet. Revelation 4:10 confirms this as a form of worship. He alone is worthy to rule. There are five crowns mentioned in the Bible, Glory, Righteousness, Life, Incorruptible, and Rejoicing. While I’m not sure if these are literal crowns, the principle stands. Every honor, every victory, every triumph, and every joy will be given back to Christ in recognition that he is the source of anything we have accomplished. Romans 11:36 reminds us that “From him and through him and to him are all things.” I think it is also important to note here that “crowning him” does not add one iota to his worth. We are not casting our crowns at his feet so that he is more glorious – no, we are casting our crowns at his feet because he is the self-existent uncreated glorious one. We are merely acknowledging who he is and the fact that he alone is worthy. One more thing before we move on to the idea of the “Lamb.” I know we don’t have “crowns” right now. I have a few pretty hats, but no crowns. However, I would challenge you to consider how you can crown him in your own life and heart right now. In the middle of trials and heartache, give him glory. You may not feel like it, but he is worthy despite our circumstances. He is worthy because it is his nature. Let’s get into the habit of lavishing our praise on him and acknowledging that he is our only source of life. Practice now what we will be doing for all eternity.

Next, he is the Lamb that reigns. He is the only Savior. He is the victorious sacrifice. He is God with pierced hands and feet. In Revelation 5:6, John sees “a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain.” The same people who had been casting their crowns before the throne in chapter four, specifically acknowledge the Lamb as the redeemer (v. 9), as worthy to receive power, wealth, wisdom, and might (v. 12), and worthy to receive blessing (v. 13). A reigning Lamb who is also the Lion of Judah (Revelation 5:5). The second time he comes it will not be to die, but rather to subdue his enemies. However, he will forever be the one who died so that we could live. He died once for all (Hebrews 10:10). On the cross, as the Lamb of God, he satisfied God’s wrath, but he also defeated death. Suddenly, the looming grave and the uncertainty that accompanied our final breaths were vanquished. When Paul wrote, “Death is swallowed up in victory. ‘O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?’” (1 Corinthians 15:54-55) he was not delusional. He was fully aware that losing someone you love hurts. However, the fear that kept us in bondage was defeated. We no longer needed to wonder about what comes next. Our great High-Priest passed through the heavens and led captivity captive (Hebrews 4:14 & Ephesians 4:8-10). He is a ruling Lamb who will never die again.

The last instruction is the “Hark!” – to listen to the heavenly music. Now, if your days are anything like mine, they aren’t typically filled with heavenly music. Our days tend to be consumed with stress, work, family, church, events, and at least a dozen other things clamoring for attention. For those of you who have children I would imagine that if you stop to listen the noise would be even louder. So, what does the instruction mean? Where is this heavenly music? This seems to be pointing back to the instruction to crown him with many crowns. At the throne, people were singing. They were worshipping. They were ascribing glory to the one who is above all and yet is ever present with us. The heavenly anthem is uninterrupted. There is never a moment, that we see in Scripture, where worship is not taking place in Heaven. Despite the circumstances, the anthem of Heaven (that he is worthy, glorious, holy, eternal, creator, and sustainer), continues. It drowns all other music. It will drown all the other voices and lies that bombard our thoughts and lives if we will let it – especially if we will join it. See, these aren’t mere words. They are a centering of our lives, thoughts, and actions on the truth of who God is. When we have an accurate and exalted view of God, we will be able to face our circumstances, uncertainties, and temptations. If our eyes are focused horizontally, we will be overwhelmed with stress and worry. We will find ourselves tempted to think that we can solve our own problems. We won’t hear or listen to the heavenly anthem. Truth will triumph in the end, but Christ came to give us victory now – not just when we arrive in heaven. He leads us in “triumphal procession” (2 Corinthians 2:14).

If you’re not feeling very triumphant, take a few minutes (or longer if you can) and contemplate the heavenly music. Think about the attributes of God. Consider the never-ending worship that he is due. “Crown” him with the glory he should receive now and watch your perspective change, even if your circumstances do not.