Heavenly crowns: who gets one?

The Bible mentions five crowns' believers will receive as a "prize for winning". These probably are not literal crown, but rewards for our years with Christ on earth. These crowns will never tarnish or fade away.

The Imperishable Crown - (1 Corinthians 9:24-25) "Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate [disciplined] in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown" (NKJV). The first thing we have to do to be eligible for a heavenly crown is "get in the race" and then work on our discipline.

The Crown of Rejoicing - "For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming" (1 Thessalonians 2:19). I look forward to going to a place where "God will wipe away every tear . . . there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away" (Revelation 21:4).

The Crown of Righteousness - "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 4:8). This is clearly a crown for those who are in the race. Romans 10:10 says, "For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation".

The Crown of Glory - (1 Peter 5:4) "And when the Chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away." This crown will be awarded to those who serve the Lord with humility and love toward others. When you read this entire chapter you may consider this a soul-winners crown.

The Crown of Life - "Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life" (Revelation 2:10). This crown is for those who are faithful until death. Jesus said, "I have come that they may have life and that they may have it more abundantly" (John 10:10). Our life on earth will end, but Jesus has promised believers eternal life after this one on earth.

In James 1:12 we read where this crown of life is for all those who love God. How do we know we've passed from death unto life? John answers this for us: "We know we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth (still abides) in death" (1 John 3:14).

I suggest we search our hearts for the answer to: How do we love? Who do we love? Are we in the race or not?