We who belong to the Lord Jesus Christ will be a CROWN OF SPLENDOR in the Lord's hand (Is. 62:3). O, who has understood the mind of the Lord...(Is. 40:13). Can we really grasp the wonder, finite as we are, that the Lord Most High, to fulfill his purposes according to his good pleasure, has chosen in some measure to reveal his splendor through his people - those redeemed by the blood of his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ (Is. 46:10; Eph. 1:9)? So marvelous is this that even angels wonder and long to understand (1 Pet. 1:12).
The Lord is building his church and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it (Matt. l6:l8). The Lord will not be silent until the righteousness of his people shines out like the dawn and their salvation like a blazing torch (Is. 62:l). The Lord has blotted out our transgressions for his own sake and he remembers our sins no more (Is. 43:25). The Lord Jesus has bestowed on us a crown of beauty (Is. 6l:3). Crowns of righteousness and life are our eternal inheritance (I Tim. 4:8; James 1:12; Rev. 2:10). The great day of the Lord will come when the nations will see our righteousness and all kings our glory. Truly, we will be a royal diadem in the hand of our God - truly a CROWN OF SPLENDOR (Is. 62:2-3).
But were we deserving of such glorious honor? Were we so dazzling that the Lord could not help himself when he chose us for the display of his splendor? Indeed we were not! For being born true sons and daughters of our father, Adam, we rejoiced to be a crown in the hand of the devil - the Prince of this world (John 3:19). We wore not crowns of beauty and righteousness but were "adorned" rather with wreaths of arrogance and rebellion against God. We followed in the footsteps of Satan, the Father of Lies, (John 8:44), for our hearts were proud and we corrupted our wisdom (Ezek. 28:17). We all said within ourselves, "I will make myself like the Most High", and our legacy was everlasting shame, contempt and death - the depths of the pit (Dan. 12:2; Is. 14:14 & 15).
But God, while we were yet sinners, lavished on us his grace (Rom. 5:8; Eph l:8). "Though your sins are like scarlet," he says, "they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool." (Is. l:l8). He opened our eyes and we turned from darkness to light - from the power of Satan to God (Eph. 1:8 & 9; Acts 26:l8). Our Lord, Jesus, for the joy that was set before him endured the cross for our sakes (Heb. l2:2). And what was his joy? That he should present us as a radiant church faultless - without spot or wrinkle or any such thing (Jude 24; Eph. 5:27) - even a crown of splendor in the hand of our God.
What a glorious creation is the true church of the Lord Jesus Christ! "I will build you with stones of turquoise", God says, "your foundations with sapphires. I will make your battlements of rubies and gates of sparkling jewels and all your walls of precious stones....In righteousness you will be established." Truly, what a crown of splendor we are! The Lord has anointed our lips with grace and blessed us forever (Ps. 45:2). Let us then put off all filthiness and unrighteousness (2 Cor. 7:l; James l:2l). Let us confess with our mouths that Jesus is Lord and speak of the wonders of our God to the children of men (Rom. 10:8 & 9; Ps. 22:22-3l).
Let us marvel that the Lord will show himself holy through us in the sight of many nations (Ezek. 39:25). Let us be awed that in the coming ages the Lord will demonstrate the incomparable riches of his grace expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus (Eph. 2:7). Let us rejoice that the Lord will guide us to his holy dwelling. Our mouths will be filled with laughter and our tongues with songs of joy. It will be said among the nations, "The Lord has done great things for them" (Ex. 15:13; Ps. 126:2). In that day we will shine like the brightness of the heavens - like the stars for ever and ever (Dan. l2:3). In that day we will sparkle in the Lord's land like jewels in a crown (Zech 9:l6). Indeed we will be a CROWN OF SPLENDOR in the hand of our God.
The Lord is building his church and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it (Matt. l6:l8). The Lord will not be silent until the righteousness of his people shines out like the dawn and their salvation like a blazing torch (Is. 62:l). The Lord has blotted out our transgressions for his own sake and he remembers our sins no more (Is. 43:25). The Lord Jesus has bestowed on us a crown of beauty (Is. 6l:3). Crowns of righteousness and life are our eternal inheritance (I Tim. 4:8; James 1:12; Rev. 2:10). The great day of the Lord will come when the nations will see our righteousness and all kings our glory. Truly, we will be a royal diadem in the hand of our God - truly a CROWN OF SPLENDOR (Is. 62:2-3).
But were we deserving of such glorious honor? Were we so dazzling that the Lord could not help himself when he chose us for the display of his splendor? Indeed we were not! For being born true sons and daughters of our father, Adam, we rejoiced to be a crown in the hand of the devil - the Prince of this world (John 3:19). We wore not crowns of beauty and righteousness but were "adorned" rather with wreaths of arrogance and rebellion against God. We followed in the footsteps of Satan, the Father of Lies, (John 8:44), for our hearts were proud and we corrupted our wisdom (Ezek. 28:17). We all said within ourselves, "I will make myself like the Most High", and our legacy was everlasting shame, contempt and death - the depths of the pit (Dan. 12:2; Is. 14:14 & 15).
But God, while we were yet sinners, lavished on us his grace (Rom. 5:8; Eph l:8). "Though your sins are like scarlet," he says, "they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool." (Is. l:l8). He opened our eyes and we turned from darkness to light - from the power of Satan to God (Eph. 1:8 & 9; Acts 26:l8). Our Lord, Jesus, for the joy that was set before him endured the cross for our sakes (Heb. l2:2). And what was his joy? That he should present us as a radiant church faultless - without spot or wrinkle or any such thing (Jude 24; Eph. 5:27) - even a crown of splendor in the hand of our God.
What a glorious creation is the true church of the Lord Jesus Christ! "I will build you with stones of turquoise", God says, "your foundations with sapphires. I will make your battlements of rubies and gates of sparkling jewels and all your walls of precious stones....In righteousness you will be established." Truly, what a crown of splendor we are! The Lord has anointed our lips with grace and blessed us forever (Ps. 45:2). Let us then put off all filthiness and unrighteousness (2 Cor. 7:l; James l:2l). Let us confess with our mouths that Jesus is Lord and speak of the wonders of our God to the children of men (Rom. 10:8 & 9; Ps. 22:22-3l).
Let us marvel that the Lord will show himself holy through us in the sight of many nations (Ezek. 39:25). Let us be awed that in the coming ages the Lord will demonstrate the incomparable riches of his grace expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus (Eph. 2:7). Let us rejoice that the Lord will guide us to his holy dwelling. Our mouths will be filled with laughter and our tongues with songs of joy. It will be said among the nations, "The Lord has done great things for them" (Ex. 15:13; Ps. 126:2). In that day we will shine like the brightness of the heavens - like the stars for ever and ever (Dan. l2:3). In that day we will sparkle in the Lord's land like jewels in a crown (Zech 9:l6). Indeed we will be a CROWN OF SPLENDOR in the hand of our God.
When Christ cometh, when he cometh
To make up his jewels,
All his jewels, precious jewels,
His loved and his own.
He will gather, He will gather
The gems for his kingdom,
All the pure ones, all the bright ones,
His loved and his own.
Like the stars of the morning
His bright crown adorning
They shall shine in their beauty;
Bright gems for his crown
William O. Cushing, 1832-1903
To make up his jewels,
All his jewels, precious jewels,
His loved and his own.
He will gather, He will gather
The gems for his kingdom,
All the pure ones, all the bright ones,
His loved and his own.
Like the stars of the morning
His bright crown adorning
They shall shine in their beauty;
Bright gems for his crown
William O. Cushing, 1832-1903
