It is important to note, in the verse above, that the believers already have a crown. You could not take a crown from someone who has no crown.

When we are born again of Jesus Christ, we assign our old adamic nature to the cross with Christ. We then view our new born-again nature as having risen in Christ to the right hand of the Father, there to await the day of resurrection. As soon as Christ is born in us, He is raised to the highest of all thrones.

We can never go any higher. Our fight is not upward but downward as we seek to bring the Life of the Throne of God into our life here on the earth. We are striving by means of the Spirit of God to do God's will in the earth as it is performed in Heaven.

Because we are dwelling with Christ in God's Throne, we have a crown. The crown is the inheritance of man, that is, rulership over the works of God's hands. It is a crown of righteousness, of life.

It is true we have been imprisoned in a lowly body, a body that keeps us humble and dependent on the Lord for all things. Nevertheless, the role of man is to govern the creation.

Because of jealousy and envy the fallen lords of the heavens, often working through people, attempt in every manner possible to pull us down from our lofty position. They bang on their pots and pans. "Look here! Look there! See what we're doing in the earth. Isn't it awful?"

Or, "See what we are accomplishing. You aren't getting anywhere just waiting on the Lord. Why don't you follow us?"

Or, "Look at how desirable this is! Why don't you reach out your hand and take a taste? There are deep pleasures here you could be enjoying and no one will ever know" (only the entire universe!).

Or, "God doesn't want you to be denied any good thing. It is true that if you walk out of your present situation you might be going against what the Bible says. But it can't be God's will that you not have what you want so badly. It must be that an exception is being made for you because you are special."

Or, "Let us eat, drink, and be happy for tomorrow we die."

The saint knows better than to look down or disobey the Scriptures. His eyes are glued on Christ and on the reward that has been set before him.

How many stars of God have fallen because they were pulled down by fear, by doubt, by dread, by lust, by personal ambition, by impatience, by attempting to please people, by carelessness, by trying to make a paradise of the present sin-cursed world?

God started you off at the highest level. He forgave your sins and handed you the crown promised to man from the beginning.

There are many angels and people who would like to get some of your talents. Don't let anyone take that crown from you!