For Such A Time As This

Background:Esther had a number of reasons why she could not go speak to the king regarding the Jews about the edict that was in circulation from Haman, who sought to annihilate all the Jews. She had not been called by the king for 30days, also as per Persian rule, no one could seek audience with the king without the king inviting them to do so. In spite of this if someone chose to meet the king it would be at the risk of their lives, unless the king would stretch out his gold scepter to them to indicate, their presence before the king was welcome. To all this excuse/reasons to avoid confrontation with the king, Mordecai replied to Esther 4:13-14 "Do not think that because you are in the king's house you alone of all the Jews will escape. 14 For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father's family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?"


Lessons I learnt

1. You have been chosen for your time and place-Like Esther all of God's children who believe in Him and walk in His will have been appointed to be in specific places at specific times. Acts 17:26 "From one man he(God) made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live."
2. Purpose of our being at our appointed places and times-Esther was chosen for her time, and so are we who have been chosen by our Lord to follow Him in these times. Ephesians 2:10 "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."
3. The effect of the times comes on everyone, believer and unbeliever alike-"Do not think that because you are in the king's house you alone of all the Jews will escape. 14 For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father's family will perish." Mordecai declares something very critical to Esther. It didn't matter where she was the edict would affect her as much as it would the other Jews, moreso if she were silent. When governments make a decision it affects all people in the country, aliens and residents alike. Whether they are working at the parliament or running a coffee shop in the corner unless the people involved take the initiative and speak out(not be silent).
4. To act upon the good works is our decision- "For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place." It was for Esther to decide whether she would act and go before the king without his permission and die, or just plain die as per the command on the edict. The edict could be stopped but as for God's plan , it cannot be stopped Job 42:2"I know that you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted.", so we can decide to either participate and be blessed and be a blessing or just be an onlooker and gain nothing and be nothing. God's plan of salvation for the Jews would come from elsewhere and it did not depend ONLY on Esther's obedience.

Conclusion: Each one of us, have assignments (good works) to do before we depart. We have been saved for a cause, we are living in these times for a purpose, to shine out our Father's light before all the earth. Our tasks may include prayerfully voting and being faithful in our duties for our country, our families, our neighbours...in reverence to our Lord. For who knows, it could be your vote, which could sway the decision toward the right candidate. For who knows it is your life that could show someone the light and give them hope to live. For who knows it is your prayer that could bring a soul to the Lord. But be not mocked, God doesn't need to depend upon our work to fulfil His plan. We can choose to be a channel of God to the world around us. Lets face it, the more the amount of water that flows through a channel, the less likely it is that the channel will be clogged. Whereas an unused channel with some water it continues to hold without letting it flow, is likely to attract only mosquitoes and other insects and that channel will soon find itself to be in a stinky situation.