Such A Time As This

Such A Time As This Esther 4:14 (HCSB) You are here for a reason. You have a "royal position" in life because you have the power to influence other people. For many women, their "royal position" also includes being a mother, and Mother's Day can be a joyous time. It's a day to be honored and celebrated for all your years of service and sacrifice. It's a day to be treated like royalty. It's a day of reflection, of looking at pictures, of reminiscing. It's a day where most mothers receive gifts and go out to eat at their favorite restaurant. And it's a day where husbands and children get to say "Thank you" in their own meaningful way. For Mother's Day, Such A Time As This, is a time to celebrate God for the gift of mothers everywhere. Mother's Day can also be a day of sadness, of painful memories, regrets, and grief. Not every mother-child relationship is good or God-honoring. Not every mother gets to see their children regularly, or at all. And the sad reality is that some mothers are awaiting a future heavenly reunion with their child. Joseph Gallagher, a National Catholic Reporter, said, "The longest life is short, and the shortest life is miraculous." When it comes to Mother's Day, Such A Time As This can bring a flood of emotions. Mother's Day also brings a flood of emotions for children whose mothers have passed on to the other side of eternity. Memories spring up, and feelings pour forth. It doesn't matter how many times you've circled the sun; you'll always be a child in relation to your parents. And any loss you may feel is a sign of the deep love you shared. Mothers work hard, and no matter what your relationship with your children has been like or is like, motherhood is never over. You're always a mother. Whether you're separated by distance or eternity, a mother never retires from being a mother. When you become a mother, Such A Time As This marks the beginning of a lifelong journey filled with a love you've never thought possible. A mother's love is never lost when it's passed on, which is why the real celebration of Mother's Day is to celebrate your memories. To cherish memories, personality traits, their strength and wisdom, all in hopes of learning from their example to inspire us to offer a more nurturing love towards others. Mother's Day is a reminder of restoration, of Godly women, of mothers, who work so others can live a better tomorrow. That is why I've chosen to look at a strong woman named Esther today. Esther is a powerful, devoted woman who endured much and was no stranger to suffering or worry. Esther was looked upon for answers and support. She labored for restoration so her fellow Israelites could live a better tomorrow. She was a bold woman who did what was best for others, despite her own well-being, and she demonstrated the traits of motherhood that all of us can glean from. If you ever visit the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan, there is an exhibit called "Your Place In Time." It's a walkthrough display of national and world events. The display includes popular entertainment and living conditions in the United States for people in the War Generation, the Eisenhower Generation, the Baby Boomers, and beyond. This display illustrates the fact that you and I cannot choose the period of history in which we live, and how everyone must decide how we will live during our place in time. This is currently our place in time, and things change, whether we want them to or not. We tend to value security even though security in this life carries no guarantees. Possessions can be destroyed, relationships can be broken, and death is unavoidable. That's why real security is only found beyond this life. It's only when your security rests on God's unchanging nature that you can face life's challenges today and be prepared for tomorrow. Esther's place in time also had many challenges. She faced many uncertainties but was certain in her God, resulting in bold actions. So, let's briefly go over the Book of Esther. Esther's story begins after King Xerxes basically divorced his wife, Queen Vashti, for not obeying his authority. Then a decree was sent out to all the young, beautiful women, so King Xerxes could look them over and claim the prettiest girl for himself. Doesn't sound too great, does it! So Esther shows up, and as luck would have it, King Xerxes choose Esther because she was the most attractive. How many women can relate to Esther, only being looked at because of their physical appearance? Esther, like so many other women, was looked at, but not really seen. But here's Esther, her life completely changed as she is now called Queen Esther. Meanwhile, Mordecai, Esther's older cousin, became a government official, and during his service, Mordecai foiled an assassination plot. But when the self-serving Haman was appointed to 2nd in command, only having to answer to King Xerxes, Haman ordered people to bow before him. When Mordecai refused to bow in reverence him, Haman became furious and determined to destroy Mordecai and all of the Jewish people with him. To achieve this ruthless deed, Haman deceived the king and persuaded him to issue an order condemning all the Jews to death. Quickly, Mordecai told Queen Esther about this order, and she decided to risk her own life to save her people. Esther's beauty and strong character might have captured King Xerxes' heart, but even as Queen, she risked her life by attempting to see the king when her presence was not requested. There was no guarantee King Xerxes would see her, and even though she was queen, her safety was not secure. Esther courageously approached the king on behalf of her people, but not before first praying and planning. She asked the Jews to pray and fast with her before she went before the king. Then, on the chosen day, Esther went before the king. And instead of speaking about the order to kill all the Jewish people, Esther invited the king and Haman to a banquet. During this banquet, the king could tell Esther had something on her mind. But she wouldn't say what it was. Instead, Esther invited them to a second banquet. Now, in the meantime, God was working behind the scenes. God caused King Xerxes to read some old historical records of the kingdom late one night when he couldn't sleep. And in reading, he discovered that Mordecai spoiled an assassination attempt and unknowingly saved the king's life. King Xerxes wasted no time in honoring Mordecai for his heroic act. Now, the second banquet was about to get underway. Before Esther left for the banquet, Mordecai encouraged Esther by saying, "Who knows, perhaps you have come to your royal position for such as time as this." Esther boldly decided it was now or never and told King Xerxes about Haman's plot to kill all the Jews. Haman was doomed when the king heard this, and Haman was impaled on the very pole Haman had originally built to impale Mordecai. Grim story, I know. But on the day the Jews were supposed to die, their enemies died instead. King Xerxes could not revoke the decree to attack the Jews, but he allowed the Jews to defend themselves. As a result, Haman, along with 75,000 would-be attackers, were killed, and the Jewish people lived. To memorialize this victory, Mordecai instituted the Feast of Purim to celebrate this victory. And the risks Esther took confirmed that God was the source of her strength and security. We may not celebrate the Feast of Purim, but we do celebrate Mother's Day as a day for everyone to remember our place in time. Such A Time As This is our place in time by remembering mothers everywhere and those women who have made a way for us. Those mothers, who, like Esther, took the time to hear people's troubles. To bear other's burdens and do what it takes to provide for the well-being of others. To take a stand. To be bold and courageous. To not all willy-nilly jump into things but to first fast and pray for God's guidance. Such A Time As This is your Now, your place in time, your today to impact tomorrow! You know, God is never mentioned in the Book of Esther, but God's loving care for His people is present throughout the book. There may be times in your life when you feel like God isn't there. Times when you experience heartache, loneliness, or loss. When you're faced with difficult questions or when your integrity and love are being questioned. Rest assured that, just like in the Book of Esther, God is there, working in the background. God has not left you, nor is this all there is. Such A Time As This is for sons and daughters to remember their mothers, and for mothers to remember their children. For adopted children to embrace the love of their foster parents and contemplate their biological parents. For sons and daughters to cry over the loss of their mother, and to carry on their mothers love through their lives. For mothers to grieve over the loss of a child and contemplate how time heals nothing, but how time plus love fosters healing. Such A Time As This is for mothers and daughters-in-law to reconcile any differences. To show compassion and mercy instead of anger and resentment. Mother's Day is the celebration of all mothers, past, present, and future, and for all the lives they've touched, for their love and compassion that motivates us to become better people. Such A Time As This is celebrating life and death because of Jesus' death and life is freely offered to all. Esther was a strong woman who trusted in God's promise of restoration. Allow Mother's Day, Such A Time As This, to remember that God's restoration of all things is a truth to cling to. The prophets of old preached the promise of God "restoring all things" (Acts 3:19-21). Everyone will feel some form of suffering, but "The God of all grace, who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you" (1 Peter 5:10). Our place in time should be used to "Restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish" each other. All those things God worked out through the Godly woman of Esther, and they are the very same things Godly mothers do for their children. You are here for Such A Time As This. The question is, how will you use your time in history? AMEN 2