June 26, 2009
I have been waiting for this day! Today is my last day of radiation treatment. After treatment, I see the doctor/nurse and then the daily visits to downtown Kalamazoo end! Hallelujah! What a joyous day!
To celebrate this prestigious day, Michael and I are going to celebrate at my favorite restaurant – Carraba’s! We went there after I finished chemotherapy as well. What a nice treat! I have been looking forward to this trip for 6 ½ weeks! Yeah, we could have gone there while I was going through radiation but I didn’t want to spoil the reward. I finally crossed the finish line and the reward was delicious!
Now, when I finish my earthly race, I know in Heaven Carraba’s won’t be there, but the reward will be sweeter because when I finish my earthly race then I get to see my Savior, Jesus and lay crowns down at His feet!
When I first read through the Bible about the crowns that the Believer can obtain, I really didn’t understand the significance of being able to give them to Jesus. I was just delighted with the fact that I was going to Heaven – that I had escaped the fire of Hell! As a newborn babe to my Christian walk, I didn’t think past having “fire insurance”. As I grew in my walk with the Lord, I still didn’t see the significance of having gifts to give to Jesus, but as time passed, I started thinking about it – even the three wise men had gifts that they brought when they came to see the baby Jesus. They brought expensive gifts, too – gold, frankincense and myrrh.
Myrrh is used in perfume, incense and medicinal preparations. Frankincense was used as incense especially in religious ceremonies; however, it was also used in perfumes. Gold – well, we all know that gold is used in making jewelry primarily, but it is found in coins, and its value has always been precious. So when we think about when Christ was born, these were very expensive gifts. Even today, gold is very expensive and is coveted.
When Christ died on Calvary, he gave something more precious than those gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh – He gave his body and His blood as the final sacrifice for all of our sins! It is sad, though, that so many don’t accept this gift that He freely offers. Think about it – when the three wise men arrived, if Mary and Joseph would have said, “No, we don’t want your gifts.”, how offended would the three wise men have been after traveling all those miles? Heck, if Aunt Millie knits you a sweater for your birthday would you really have the heart to tell her that you hate it? It doesn’t matter what the sweater really looks like. The fact that Aunt Millie spent so much time and slaved so hard to make that gift for you makes you appreciative. Well, what about Jesus? His gift was so much the more personalized! He hung on a cross. He died an agonizing death. He was mocked and scourged. He was whipped, mocked, humiliated, laughed at, ridiculed, and He even had his hair and beard hair pulled out! Yet, He quietly and meekly went to the cross. He hung there and died there not because of what He had done, but because of what WE did and still do – sin! Even us born again believers still sin. The only difference between a born again believer’s sin and a nonbeliever’s sin is the person who has accepted Jesus’ gift, their sins are forgiven. Just like Aunt Millie’s sweater. When you accepted that present from her, you had the gift. Many people know the story of Jesus Christ, but if you don’t accept the gift, you have nothing.
For the Believer, when we open our eyes up in Heaven, we will have a gift to give back to Jesus – the crowns that we have earned. Now, Jesus never asked us to thank Him or repay Him, but our human nature tells us that when someone does something wonderful for us, we should write a thank you card or get something for them, or do something special for them. Christ has given us that opportunity – by earning crowns here on earth.
II Timothy 4:8
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.
James 1:12
Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
1 Peter 5:4
And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.
Revelation 2:10
Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.
My race wasn’t as hard as Christ’s and it wasn’t even as hard as Paul’s, but I still believe that even through the minor hills of discouragement, I kept my eye on the prize – not just finishing chemotherapy or radiation, but keeping my testimony and glorifying God through this journey!
