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“Four and Twenty Elders Our Example”
We had just finished singing “The Old Rugged Cross” last midweek at Corinth. In the chorus of the song is the phrase “my trophies at last I lay down.” That was a peculiar sentence to me because of one word, trophies. “What trophies?” I asked. The question in my mind was sincere so, I challenged those present to offer me an explanation. Immediately after the service one of our men gave me his answer. Sounded solid to me. Before I left the office another had offered his thoughts. Yesterday, Thursday, two more people, one of our men and one of our ladies sent me texts with their thoughts. The consensus of all four were similar. The trophies we will lay down are the earthly trophies, our earthly accomplishments, the things we are proud of here will all be looked at as much less important than what Jesus did for us on the cross. What a great truth each of us need to always think about. Nothing in your life, or mine, is greater than what Jesus did at Calvary. Because the work of Jesus on the cross, the payment for our sins, our hearts should be full of gratitude. If not for the cross, none of us would ever make it to heaven. Another line from a hymn I love reads “in my hand no price I bring, simply to the cross I cling.” Are you grateful to the Lord? Do you think how sinful you have been, and yet the blood of Christ cleansed you giving you Heaven as a destination at death instead of Hell? Not a day should ever go by that we aren’t overwhelmed with gratitude because of what Jesus did on the cross, what none of us could ever do; paid the penalty for our sins.
Revelation 4:10-11, “The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, 11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.” Now the question arises “who are these elders?” Some people seem to think they are angels, some think tribulation saints while others think they are Israel. I personally think they are representatives of the church. Why? Angels are never referred to in the Bible as elders and neither the Tribulation saints or Israel are redeemed at this time, the time of this vision by John. One more thought is that angels are never promised crowns and God’s people are. There are at least five crowns’ Christians can receive. The incorruptible (I Corinthians 9:24-25), rejoicing (I Thes. 2:19), righteousness (II Tim. 4:8), glory (I Peter 5:4), and life (Revelation 2:10). Revelation 5:8-10 reads, “And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odors, which are the prayers of saints. 9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; 10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.” The example of these 24 elders seems to be the behavior that the saints will emulate. Perhaps that is what George Bennard meant when he penned those words “my trophies at last I lay down” in 1912.
One final thought for today. When you suffer or have to carry a massive burden, do you ever start to think “woe is me?” I know I have in the past and may so again in the future. When this happens, my prayer is to remember, I never suffered like Jesus. When we think no one has ever been through what we are going through, remember Jesus went through much more. Years ago, a man lost a son. The boy was taken suddenly and the man was angry. When the minister arrived to try and offer his condolences, the anger burst forth from the lips of the man. “Where was God when my boy died?” The preacher, as kind as he possibly could, said, “He was exactly at the same place when His Son also died.” There is nothing we can possibly experience that doesn’t pale in comparison to the suffering Jesus endured at the cross. Is it any wonder that these elders cast their crowns at the feet of the “worthy one”, the Lord Jesus Christ. Any trophies, accolades, or achievements I may have accomplished or received in my life are nothing compared to what Jesus did for me. As much as I have enjoyed the congratulations and praises from time to time, compared to Jesus’ love for me and His sacrifice on my behalf, I simply offer Him my life, my all. I am just a sinner saved by a wonderful Lord. John Newton was a slaver in the middle of the 1700’s. He was a captain of a slave ship and invested in the trade at an early age. But he was changed. The Lord saved him and he became an ardent abolitionist. At the end of his life, he was asked what he would want people to remember. His words should ring in our ears every day or our lives. “Christ is a great Savior and I am a great sinner.”