“For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:1-17).
God’s Faithfulness to His People
When we scroll through the latest headlines, we are bombarded with the reality of our broken world. Currently there are wars and rumors of wars, and it may seem to some like God is absent from these events. However, when we look to Scripture we see that God is never absent – he is always guiding and directing the events of history, like a hand in a glove. He is constantly present and always faithful to his people.
As we are diving into the book of Esther this spring, we see the faithfulness of God and his plans for his people as he guides and directs the course of history. Last week, we looked at Haman’s plan for the destruction of the Jews. Esther 4 picks up with the response of Mordecai and the people of God to this plan of destruction. When Mordecai learned about the decree that had been issued to destroy the Jews, he was devastated. He put on sackcloth and ashes, lamenting with loud and bitter cries. The people of God joined him in a public display of sorrow. Esther, isolated from the world in the walls of the palace, was not aware of the decree and at first sent garments to clothe Mordecai, perhaps wondering why he was making such a spectacle. Mordecai knew that Persian laws could not be changed (Esther 1:19), so the severity of this new decree was one that he took seriously. With this, he asked Esther to approach the king and plead on behalf of her people. The problem with that is that there was another law – no one could approach the king without being summoned, including the queen. This law was punishable by death.
The faith of Mordecai is evident here. He knew that what is impossible with man is possible with God. He tells Esther, “for if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place”. Mordecai is trusting in the faithfulness of God. God is going to accomplish his purposes and deliver his people. He invited Esther to be a part of that, but knew that God would do it even without her. God’s faithfulness does not depend on Esther’s faithfulness.
Esther’s response – she gathered God’s people to fast and pray. She obeyed in faith and in fear, knowing that the cost could be death. We know how this story ends. God uses Mordecai’s faith, the prayers of his people, and Esther’s courage to show his faithfulness in the salvation of his people and the thwarting of the plans of evil against them. The story of Esther is historical evidence that God is faithful and that he moves through the lives of ordinary people to accomplish his purposes.
God’s Faithfulness to His Purpose
Have you considered that God’s story is not done yet? God continues to write his story in our own day, and he invites you and I to be a part of it. The same God that created Esther and appointed her to be the beacon of hope for her people has created you, in this time, in this place, for such a time as this. What is God doing in our day? How does the story he is writing, that he is inviting you and I to be a part of, end?
Take a look at the book of Revelation. God has written the ending and given it to us so that we can know his purpose for this world. We can know how the story ends. In Revelation 7:9 -10, John sees a great multitude, that no one could number from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” We know how the story ends. If we are in Christ, our salvation secures our place before the throne of God, worshiping our King. But there will be others with us – every tribe, tongue, and language. How will they get there? God, in his kindness, allows us to be a part of that.
God’s Faithfulness to His Call
Let’s look at the state of our world today – the world that we have inherited has seen the gospel flow and impact every political nation. Unfortunately, there are still around 3 billion people that not only do not know Jesus as Lord, but do not have access to the good news of the gospel. Most of these people have no access to a Christian, a missionary, a church, or a Bible. These people are considered unreached and need an outside witness to share Christ with them. This part of the world includes 28% of the world’s population, but only 3% of the missionaries, and 1% of missions finances are dedicated to these people. These people are not more lost than your atheist college professor or your unchurched neighbor, the difference is access. Apart from an outside witness going to them to share the gospel, they will live and die without knowing this good news. This is a tragedy and a crisis of obedience in the church today.
Looking at Esther, God prepared her to live in that palace, to have the king’s favor, for that time, to accomplish his purposes. And by God’s grace and according to his plan, she was faithful to that purpose.
Looking at church history, after the book of Acts the church expanded all throughout the Roman empire through an earth that God had prepared by means such as Roman roads, the Pax Romana, a common language, trade, currency, and even through the persecution of Christians. God created those people in that day, for such a time as this. And by God’s grace and according to his plan, the early Christians were faithful to spread the gospel using these avenues in their time.
Fast forward to today, we have been placed in a world where you can travel almost anywhere in a period of 24 hours! We have the internet, which makes communication across the globe instantaneous. In many ways we have a common language, as English is becoming more and more an established language of business and trade, even in countries such as China and India where English is not the first language spoken. Could we be in a season that God has prepared for such a time as this? Could he be calling us to be used by him so that we may see every tribe, tongue, and nation worshiping before the throne of God? Could the events of today and our stewardship of the gospel message see his glory fill the earth as the waters cover the sea?
If we do nothing, God will still accomplish his purposes. But friends, we don’t want to miss out! There is no greater purpose for our lives than partnering with him in this great purpose he has created you for. How are you living your life to this end? How will you join him?
Does this mean that God is calling you to go to those 3 billion and share the gospel with them? Maybe. But he could also be calling you to join in the support of those who are going, and there are many ways that you can do that.
God’s Faithfulness for Such a Time as This
To join God in what he desires to accomplish in and through us to fulfill that Revelation 7:9-10 vision, we look to our Savior – Jesus Christ: who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God! Oh what joy to look to our Savior and know that nothing compares to living out what we were created for in Christ. If you do nothing, God will still accomplish his purposes in the world. But who knows whether you have not been put on this earth for such a time as this? Will you trust God’s faithfulness for what he wants to do in and through you? God is guiding and directing the events in our current day, and as his child, he has given you an important role to play in expanding his kingdom among all tribes, nations, and languages. Just as he called Mordecai and Esther, he calls us, ordinary people, to join him in an extraordinary purpose. Will you join him for such a time as this?
To join in your part in God’s global mission, lived out through the body of Christ at Providence Church, connect with Providence Missions and let us help you get started with discovering more of your unique role in God’s global mission by clicking this link.
