Crowned with Gold

 by Brian Hennessy

           Whenever I see some unusual news event take place, I just figure God is trying to communicate some message to those “who have ears to hear.” So when the story of the Canadian figure skaters in the Olympics broke last week, I got quiet before the Lord, wondering what He might be saying. And it didn’t take long before I saw this wonderful exciting message. In fact, two exciting messages. Let me share them both with you.

           I’m sure you are all aware of the story of how the gold medal was denied to the Canadian duo and awarded to the Russian team who didn’t skate as well. A corrupt judge had traded her vote for a return favor in another event. After it was exposed, and an uproar began, the issue was resolved by not taking away the gold medal from the Russians, but by awarding another gold medal to the Canadians.

           Insight #1: The Russian team represents the Gentile Church. Like them, we benefited from another’s misfortune - namely, the Jews. It was the Jews alone who were entitled to the righteousness, glory and honor available through faith in Jesus Christ. Paul states that he had great sorrow and unceasing grief for his kin who had shown such unbelief,...”to whom belongs the adoption as sons and the glory...” (Rom. 9:1-5). Like the Canadian couple, the Jews were robbed of that glory by Satan when he deceived them into living such carnal idolatrous lives that when Jesus came along they didn’t recognize Him as their Messiah. And in rejecting Him they forfeited the glory. As a result the honor fell into the lap of the Gentiles  “By their transgression salvation has come to the Gentiles” (Rom 11:11).

           That we were completely undeserving to receive such an honor, Paul leaves no doubt. “Remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh...were separate from Messiah, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in this world” (Eph 2:11,12). Nevertheless, God had mercy on us and grafted us into the inheritance that belonged to Israel through faith in Jesus. Although we didn’t deserve it, we were awarded the gold medal.

           But there is nothing hidden that shall not be revealed. Paul was also given the heavenly understanding to see the fullness of God’s plan. For in the wisdom of God, God had arranged things so that all would fall into disobedience - SO THAT HE COULD HAVE MERCY ON ALL. “For just as you (Gentiles) were disobedient to God but now have been shown mercy because of their (the Jews) disobedience, so these also have been disobedient, in order that because of the mercy shown to you THEY ALSO MAY BE SHOWN MERCY - for God has shut up all in disobedience that He might show mercy to all” (Rom. 11:30,31).

           Which brings us to how the Olympic Committee resolved the issue. They showed mercy to the Russians by allowing them to keep their undeserved gold medal - but showed mercy and justice to the Canadians also by awarding them the glory of the gold as well.

           Message: God is about to show mercy to the Jewish people and restore to them the glory they lost. He is about to open their eyes to the identity of their Messiah! And then all Israel - Jew and Gentile chosen by God - will be saved! It’s coming people, believe it!

           Insight #2: Since God’s Word always has many levels of understanding, the Spirit showed me another way to look at this whole scenario (believe me, I couldn’t have gotten this on my own).

           In this view we only need to focus on the Canadians and to see them as ALL of God’s chosen redeemed people, whether you want to call us the church (the eccelesia)  or Israel. For awhile, all the Canadians had was the silver medal. In their hearts they knew they were the gold medallists, and they hoped that justice would be done and they would get the gold. But until it was awarded, they remained silver medallists and nothing more.

           In Bible typology, it is widely accepted that silver stands for redemption. I can’t necessarily prove that Scripturally, but all those who are gifted in Biblical typology teach that is so. And I accept that as truth. Gold on the other hand represents the glory of God and the perfection of the saints. That is seen in the fact that the Ark of the Covenant and the Mercy Seat in the Holy of Holies - which is where we are headed experientially to meet with God  - was of pure gold. It represents the Shekinah glory of God.

           Message: Our present state of salvation (silver) is about to be upgraded to gold. Right now we carry the glory and righteousness of God within these earthen vessels - but it can’t be seen. Like the Canadians we are still waiting for the gold medal to be officially awarded - or manifested. And until it is given - the world will not truly recognize us as God’s chosen people. Don’t let Satan rob you of the gold. Don’t be satisfied with just silver. Stand fast in expectation that the gold is yours because it was won with a flawless performance - not by us, but by Jesus, who has promised to share His golden glory with us. The awarding of the gold is coming soon - so get ready to receive it!

           “For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. And not only this, but also we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body. For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we WAIT EAGERLY FOR IT” (Rom. 8:22-25).

           “Arise shine; for your light has come. And the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For behold, darkness has covered the earth, and deep (spiritual) darkness the peoples; but the Lord will rise upon you, and His glory will appear UPON you. And nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising” (Isa 60: 1-3).

           I offer this last piece of insight. I saw a show on TV that inquired about how the gold medals were made. The company that manufactured them explained that all the medals were actually silver underneath and were overlaid with gold. So they planned to just dip the Canadian’s silver medal in gold and return it to them. Which reinforces the message that ALL those who will come into His glory are the redeemed silver medalists of the Lord who have waited faithfully for His promise of redemption.

           In 1 Kings 6:21,22 we read, “So Solomon overlaid the whole house with gold, until all the house was finished.”  This “house” was the Holy of Holies part of the temple which would house the Ark of the Covenant. As the temple of the Lord, we can expect that God is going to come for all His redeemed and chosen people and bring us into the Holy of Holies experience and “overlay” - or clothe - us with His golden Shekinah glory. Then the work of His House will be complete and He shall dwell in our midst forever.

           We’re very close people! If you are going through deep trials right now, hold on to Paul’s words of encouragement. “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed in us” (Rom. 8:18).

           For the Canadians, the time of waiting for things to be made right only lasted four days. That showed progress according to a former medal winner who had also been defrauded. It had taken a year and a half for her to recover the gold medal she rightfully deserved. That says to me that our time of waiting will be short.

2002