The Encourager
“"For such a Time as This"”
“For Such a Time as This”
by Jeff Curtis
The book of Esther is an excellent story of God’s providence in taking care of His children. This book is different from most of the books of the Bible. It is named for a woman and it describes the origin of a feast that is not spoken of anywhere else in the Old Testament. Nor does it mention God by name anywhere within its pages. It is not mentioned or quoted in the New Testament. It has been both greatly admired and viciously attacked by Jewish as well as Christian scholars.
In the story of Esther, she has become queen of the Persian empire. She keeps her identity a secret from the king. Knowing she is a Jew she feels may put her life in jeopardy. So, she neglects to tell the king about being a Jew and identifying herself with God’s people; “10 Esther had not revealed her people or family, for Mordecai had charged her not to reveal it” “20 Now Esther had not revealed her family and her people, just as Mordecai had charged her, for Esther obeyed the command of Mordecai as when she was brought up by him” (Esther 2:10,20). The Jews were captives during the Persian reign.
In the end, through God’s providential care, her silence regarding her race worked out for the best. In order for that to happen, however, she had to be willing to tell the king that she was a Jew when the critical time arrived. To her credit, she did so, identifying herself as a Jewess and linking her destiny with that of her people.
Christians today should be willing, even proud, to identify themselves with God’s people, the church. Jesus identified Himself with the church. When Saul was persecuting Christians, Jesus asked him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” (Acts 9:4). To persecute members of Christ’s body was to persecute Jesus Christ Himself. In fact, Paul wrote that the church is “the fullness of Him who fills all in all” (Ephesians 1:23).
If we want to identified with Christ, we need to be active members of the Lord’s church. Biblically speaking, no one can truly be a follower of Christ without being a part of Christ’s church.
True Conversion
by Heath Rogers
“For they themselves declare concerning us what manner of entry we had to you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come” (1 Thess. 1:9-10, emphasis mine - HR).
The Thessalonians set a great example when they responded to Paul’s preaching. Notice, their conversion consisted of three actions.
First, they turned away from sin and towards God. To convert means to turn. God calls all men to repent (Acts 17:30). He never promised to save us from our sins while we remain in those sins. Have we turned our back on sin?
Second, they served God. Their faith not only turned them away from sin, but it moved them to pursue the true and living God and do His will. We are saved to serve, not to sit. Our faith must express itself in works of obedience to God’s will (James 2:14-26). Do we serve God?
Finally, they lived in hope. These Christians were suffering for their new-found faith, but they were not throwing in the towel. They knew their Lord had defeated the grave and was reigning in Heaven. It is from there that He will return to punish all who oppose Him and deliver His faithful into the Father’s presence (2 Thess. 1:6-10; 1 Cor. 15:24). Are our eyes fixed on Heaven, or are we still at home in this world?
