«I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing» (2 Timothy 4:7,8).
Joni Eareckson, a young woman full of life and hope, suffered a fracture of the spine that left her quadriplegic. This happened while she was diving into the waters of the Chesapeake Bay (USA). For some time, she fought against anger, depression and wanting to kill herself, but after two years of turmoil, she began to accept her reality and to adapt to her new situation, which gave meaning to her life. She discovered her artistic skills when she learned to paint by holding the paintbrush between her teeth. She became famous because of her autobiography. Since then, she works tirelessly as a lecturer and motivational speaker for people who suffer from physical disabilities.
Today, Joni is a renowned author who has written more than forty books and has helped many people understand the mysterious purpose for pain and adversity. In her book When God Weeps, she enumerates the many reasons why God allows us to suffer; one of them being to polish us and make us perfect through suffering (Heb. 2:10).
Joni’s story is a fascinating example of resilience. But the apostle Paul’s story offers an even more advanced step with an eternal outcome. He suffered tremendously (the list of his trials can be found in 2 Corinthians 11). He wrote today’s text at the end of his life, shows the strong and reliable guarantee of a crown of justice being reserved, both for him and for each of us. The condition is that we must love Jesus’s coming—in other words, we must place Him at the center of our life, as our Friend, Lord, and Savior, while we eagerly wait for His return. ‘The guarantee of the crown is not like the reservations made by some airlines which practice overbooking. Tie airlines sell more tickets than there are seats on the plane, with the expectation that some passengers will change their plans or won’t arrive on time. That’s why some people have to hear: «We’re sorry, but the plane is full and you will have to take another flight!»
Think today about this crown of justice today. It has surely been reserved for you. This idea will revitalize your hope and strengthen your relationship with Jesus, as you yearn more and more for His return!