"For Such A Time As This" - Updated 6-12-17

We studied a little about Queen Esther in our Bible Study this morning, and it reminded me of this post that I wrote last year...and this still speaks to my heart today...perhaps it will yours as well...

Have a blessed day my friends! 

"Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom 

for such a time as this?"

Esther 4:14b

Have you ever come to a point in your life where you had to take a stand that might be unpopular, perhaps even dangerous to your own life situation...but yet you knew that to remain silent could be more dangerous or significantly damaging to the lives and/or circumstances of others?  Not a pleasant place to be.

Queen Esther was in such a position...and if she chose not to act it could have meant the death and destruction of the Jewish people during the time of their captivity in the Persian Empire.  However, in order to act on behalf of her people Queen Esther would need to put her own life in grave danger by requesting an audience with the King.  You can read all about this in the Old Testament book of Esther.  Esther was very courageous...and even though it was against the law for her to approach the king, she knew she had to do it.  In chapter 4, verse 16, Esther says, 

"And so I will go to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish!"

(click on this video for "Esther's Song" by Ashley and Micha'el BenDavid)

Esther did not perish...and neither did the Jewish people...because God had gone before her and prepared the way.  She was a chosen vessel "for such a time as this."

Perhaps you have had experiences in your life where you had to decide between right and wrong...and take a stand for the sake of "the people"...whether "the people" be your spouse, children, parents, friends...or office staff, employees, your business, place of employment,  church, school, community, neighbors.
Possibly your action meant that you might lose your job, your position in the community, church, friendships...and sadly even family relationships.

But to choose not to take action could mean something much more detrimental to "your people".

I kind of compare it to the slogan, "Friends don't let friends drive drunk"...and so you take the keys away.  You have just a moment to act...and it could change the lives of those around you forever.  When you see someone headed for destruction and you choose to remain silent, refusing to get involved...you tacitly become just as guilty when they careen into the path of another vehicle and hit them head on, possibly killing or seriously injuring innocent bystanders.  You may not be the one that goes to jail for vehicular manslaughter, but you will live for the rest of your life with the guilt of what could have been done "if only I had taken action".

As I stated in the beginning, to take such a course of action may not be widely appreciated by everyone.  However, some may never even know what you did to stem the tide of the impending tsunami, diverting it away from the danger zones. The important thing is to know in your heart when it is the right thing to do...and to act accordingly, leaving the results to God...not seeking any glory for yourself...but giving thanks to the Lord for His guidance and protection for "your people"....

"Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom

for such a time as this?"

"Arise, shine; for your light has come!

And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you.

For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth,

and deep darkness the people;

But the Lord will arise over you,

and His glory will be seen upon you."

Isaiah 60:1-2