“…And who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” Esther 4: 14b
Due to a strange turn of events, Queen Vashti was
unjustly removed as Queen of Persia when she refused to perform lewd dancing
before her husband, King Ahasuerus and his drunken friends (Esther 1:1 and
following). Although she maintained her dignity, she has been maligned as a
rebellious wife and an arrogant woman (another blog for another day!!!). As a
result, the King began a search for a new Queen.
Long story short, a beautiful, “fresh” young lady
by the name of Esther was chosen. At the time, the King did not know that she
was a Jew. Eventually, she would be challenged to reveal her true identity when
her people were threatened with annihilation. Her uncle Mordecai urged her with
these words,
“…And who knoweth whether thou art come to the
kingdom for such a time as this?” Esther 4:
14b
Was it destiny? Was it providence? People of
faith declare, “It was God’s will, God’s purpose and God’s timing…”
Today our nation experienced another, “for such a
time as this” moment. Following four years of turmoil, deep racial
divisions, “hyper other-ism,” tribalism and unprecedented deceit from a
presidential administration, a new day has dawned in America! Today, we
witnessed a “peaceful transition of power.”
Today we witnessed the swearing in of the first
African American/Southeast Asian Woman Vice President, in the person of Kamala
Harris! Today we witnessed the first African American man (Rev. Dr.
Raphael Warnock) and the first Jewish man (Jon Ossoff) sworn in as Senators of
Georgia. Today we witnessed the first National Youth Poet Laureate, in
the person of Amanda Gorman! WHAT A HISTORIC DAY!!!
But one of the most powerful things we witnessed today was the swearing in of the
oldest person to ever become President of the United States of America, Joseph R. Biden, age 78! His story is particularly inspiring because of his life journey. A man who struggles with stuttering, a man who came from “blue collar” America, a man who did not attend an ivy league school, a man who lost his first wife and daughter on the week he was to be sworn in as a U.S. Senator. He is a man who ran for the presidency no less than three times (1988, 2008, 2020)!
Many thought that he was too old. Many thought
that he couldn’t talk right. Many thought that he was not progressive enough. You
name it, he was not the 1st choice…until now… Now, Joe Biden became
just what our nation needed… a man filled with wisdom, dignity, calm, stability
and experience…a man who is respected on “both sides of the isle…” a man who
has a shot at bringing our country back together.
What made the difference? Did he change? Did he gain some different attributes? Did he
somehow get a makeover? NO! The difference was God’s timing!
God’s timing is always different than our timing.
You may think that your time has passed. You may feel its too late. You may
have tried several times and failed. But God has a time, a space and a place
where your gifts will shine through, your purpose will be made clear and your
new day will dawn!
In the “fullness of time,” you will break out on the left and the right! You will make the difference that you were called to make. YOU WILL fulfill all that God has ordained for you to accomplish.
Don’t give up. Don’t be thwarted by the nay sayers.
Keep on doing what the Lord has made you to do. Be the best YOU that you can,
by the power of the Holy Ghost and God’s grace.
Your “for such a time as this,” will be revealed.
In Faith, Hope and Perseverance,
Pastor Chris
