Dearly Beloved, WHOSE PURPOSE? “Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne, and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say: ‘You are worthy, our Lord and God…’” (Revelation 4:9-11, NIV). As I read the above quoted Bible passage recently, I remembered the dramatic explanation of one of my professors when I was in the seminary as he taught us about the crowns that Christians will get as rewards when Jesus Christ comes back again. To him, the crowns will be used to praise God in heaven just as the heavenly beings are doing presently in heaven. I had another implication of that passage as I ruminated on the action of the heavenly beings - we are to serve and worship God with those things that we consider as precious to us. Crowns are one of the things that we consider as things of honor. Kings and queens usually wear them. Garlands are similar things that are given with medals to athletes that triumph in sport activities. They are all things of honor that the owners are guiding jealously. However, for Christians, every precious thing is given purposely to serve and worship God and even to serve the humanity. We should not be self-centered in using them. The heavenly beings are worshiping God with their own crowns. What is that thing that is so precious to you? Whose purpose is it? God gave you the thing so that you can use it to worship Him and make it be of benefit to the humanity. No matter how precious and honorable the thing may be, it is not given only for your selfish purpose. It is given for the purpose of worshiping God and service to the humanity. In His service, Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor). _________________________ Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor). +234 805 515 9591 http://www.afolabayo.org/ http://groups.yahoo.com/group/spiritualdigest2003/ "I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. FOR TO ME, TO LIVE IS CHRIST AND TO DIE IS GAIN" (Philippians 1:20-21, NIV). _________________________________________________ FindLaw - Free Case Law, Jobs, Library, Community http://www.FindLaw.com Get your FREE @JUSTICE.COM email! http://mail.Justice.com