The Crown Has Fallen
Lamentation 5:16
"The crown is fallen from our head: woe unto us, that we have sinned!"
Sin had caused a horrible thing to happen to the nation of Israel, and that was they lost the crown of glory among the nations. Israel is God's chosen people. They saw God do mighty works through their nation. They saw God part the Red Sea and the Jordan River, defeat giants that were heroes of their day, conquer cities that seemed to be unconquerable and became the super power of their day. Yet, their sins caused them to lose all of this. Their sins caused them to become the nation that served instead of the nation being served. They became the laughingstock instead of being the revered.
It would seem that Israel would never again be used because their crown had fallen; but hold on, though their crown had fallen they were still used by God. God still used Israel as the nation where Jesus would be born. God still kept Israel in prophecy for the end times. Though their crown had fallen, they were still useful to God.
I recently heard another preacher friend of mine tell me how another pastor criticized him for using someone who lost their crown. This other pastor said that they just didn't trust the fallen person and that they shouldn't be used. What a sad commentary on that pastor's Christianity. Just because someone's crown has fallen does not mean that God won't use them again.
When you study the Scriptures, you find that there are many people who lost their crown, but God still used them. David lost his crown when he had the affair with Bathsheba, but God still used him. Moses lost his crown when he smote the rock the second time, but God still used him. Samson lost his crown when he told Delilah where his strength came from, but God still used him. Just because people lost their crown does not mean that God can't use them.
Have you lost your crown? Has sin claimed the crown from your life and you feel like you are worthless to God and Christianity? Let me assure you that God can still use you. Oh, you may never wear the crown again, but that does not mean that you can't serve in the palace of the church. That does not mean that you can't help those who still have their crown to fulfill God's purpose for their lives. So, the crown has fallen from your head, God can still use you, and He can still use you in a great way. Don't let the fallen crown be the casket of your Christian life. Don't let the fallen crown be the epitaph on your spiritual tombstone. Don't let the fallen crown be the final chapter in the book of your life. Yes, your crown has fallen, but you are still useful to God. God can use you even if your crown has fallen.
Furthermore, to those who still have their crown, be careful about judging those who've lost theirs. Just because they've lost their crown does not mean that God can't use them. Stop sitting in your self-righteousness thinking you are better than they. Don't think that the crown cannot fall from your head. Christian, because you still have your crown, you should try to help the one's who've lost theirs to be used by God again. If all you do is judge them, then you are working against God.
Finally, let the fallen crown be a lesson to you. Always remember that everyone is one decision and one act away from losing their crown. Let the fallen crown warn you that you are capable of losing yours. Beware of Satan's tactics and carefully and prayerfully live your life asking God to help you keep the crown on your head.