Revelation 3:11 Don’t Lose Your Crown
In Revelation 3:11, Jesus exhorts faithful believers to remain faithful to Him and to His Word,
Revelation 3:11 I am coming quickly…
This isn’t a threat but a promise: Jesus will return for His church before the Great Tribulation.
Therefore,
… hold fast what you have so that no one will take your crown.
This is written to a remarkably faithful church, encouraging them to hold on, endure, and fight the faithful fight a little longer.
He’s not worried that they or you might forfeit eternal life, but it would be a shame to forfeit eternally wonderful rewards and blessings by giving up or giving in now.
A crown is a reward for one’s faithfulness to Jesus.
The crown in Revelation 3:11 is like an Olympian’s gold medal, but instead of being awarded for athletic greatness, it is awarded to “overcoming” believers who are faithful to Christ.
As such, this crown, which Jesus sets on our heads, acknowledges spiritual victory, yet it bequeaths so much more. The crown functions like the key to the city, a seat in the cabinet, a general’s rank, and an increased capacity for greater joy, service, and worship.
The crown is also the key to the city, a seat in the cabinet, a general’s rank, and an increased capacity for greater joy, service, and worship.
Jesus doesn’t want you to lose this!
This means you must remain faithful to Him, even in the face of cultural pressures and temptations.
Colossians 2:18 Let no one defraud you of your prize by delighting in self-abasement and the worship of the angels, taking his stand on visions he has seen, inflated without cause by his fleshly mind, 19 and not holding fast to the head…
This takes participation in the church and its mission. Invest in others. Surround yourself with other faithful believers who will encourage you to follow Jesus.
And trust Jesus when He tells us things like,
Matthew 6:1 Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise, you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven.
We naturally seek to please men and be honored by others. Watch out. When we compromise, we consider others’ opinions higher than God’s.
Let us learn from Paul (positively) and Demas (negatively) below.
The apostle Paul is at the end of his life, sentenced to death, awaiting his final day in prison. He writes,
2 Timothy 4:7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; 8 in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge will award to me on that day and not only to me but also to all who have loved His appearing.
Paul expects the crown reward for loving Jesus and looking forward to His second appearing.
Notice his sad words about Demas. Rather than loving “Jesus’ appearing,” he loves “this present world” and abandons Paul when things get rough.
9 Make every effort to come to me soon; 10 for Demas, having loved this present world, has deserted me…
Jesus rewards Paul. Demas not only deserted Paul but deserted his own crown if he didn’t repent.
Jesus encourages us to remain faithful to Him and not let anyone’s opinions, bad advice, lies, or misguidance cause us to lose our rewards.