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Such a Time as This from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo.

The preacher Charles Spurgeon once said, "I believe that in dark times God is making lamps with which to remove the gloom." For every Goliath that appears, the Lord has secretly prepared a David, an Elijah, a You.

A young Jewish girl in the Bible named Hadassah was living as an exile in Persia. Her father and mother were dead, and she was being raised by her uncle Mordecai. The current king of Persia had recently lost a war with Greece and come home a defeated man. So to cheer him up, they created him a harem of about 400 of the most beautiful women in the land. Hadassah was drafted into this new harem and given the Persian name of Esther.

So here was young Esther living in a foreign country with no parents. She was locked away and forced to sleep with an evil king whenever he summoned her. Yet, things were going on behind the scenes that no one knew about yet. An evil plot was developing to destroy the Jewish people.

The king's second-in-command, Haman, hated the Jewish people. He was a descendent of Agag the Amalekite, whose people the Jewish king Saul had destroyed. Esther's uncle Mordecai was a descendent of King Saul. So there was a long and bitter rivalry here.

One day, Mordecai refused to bow down when Haman walked by. So Haman went to the king and convinced him to pass a law to kill all the Jews living in the land and seize their possessions. Then he built a gallows seventy-five feet high and planned to hang Mordecai on it.

In the meantime, Esther had won the king's favor, and he made her his new Queen. She had hidden her identity, so no one knew she was Jewish. Her uncle Mordecai sent a message asking her to plead with the king to spare her people. But Esther was afraid to go, for it was a death sentence to enter the king's court uninvited. So Mordecai told her this:

(Esther 4:13–14 NKJV) And Mordecai told them to answer Esther: "Do not think in your heart that you will escape in the king's palace any more than all the other Jews. For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?"

Esther was living during a horrible time for the Jewish people. They had been carried away by force to a foreign country, and now they were going to be executed. Yet, this beautiful young orphan was God's answer to the evil Haman. God had already prepared Esther and put her in a place of influence before Haman spoke to the king.

We know the rest of the story. Esther and those with her fasted for three days and nights, then she went to see the king. She saved her people, and Haman was hanged on gallows he had built for Mordecai. There is a Jewish holiday called Purim that commemorates the event.

We could have lived in any other generation, but we were put here for such a time as this. The Lord has spent years preparing us for what we will face today. For every Goliath, the Lord has prepared a David. For every Haman, the Lord has prepared an Esther. They are behind the scenes, little known until the proper time comes.

We all have a God-given destiny to fulfill. The Lord has a plan and a purpose for us, a hope, and a future. It may be small or huge, but He has something in store for you. Many times, like Esther, we may be scared to do it. It's ok to be scared. Just don't let fear stop you. The safest thing you can do is what He told you.

It's doubtful that David would have ever become king without facing Goliath. Esther would have perished if she had not pleaded with the king. Jonah would have drowned if he hadn't repented and gone to Nineveh. Being in God's will is the safest place you can be.

(Romans 8:28 NKJV) "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose."

Even orphans living in exile and evil kings can be used to fulfill God's purpose here. We are His light during the dark times, and we will overcome. It's ok to be scared, but don't let it stop you from ever trying. If you feel like you don't know what He wants you to do, remember these words of Jesus Christ:

(Matthew 5:14–16 NKJV) "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven."

Each Christian is a light in a dark world, but what is our light? Good works! I don't mean recycling plastic, though we should try to. I am talking about good works as defined by the Bible.

When Christians show love to others, even their enemies, the world sees the light of the gospel. When we replace our anger with patience and our lust with restraint, others begin to see we are different. When we feed the hungry, give generously, clothe the naked, pray for the sick, our light brightens. Our face can shine like Moses when he came down from mount Sinai to the lost and needy.

No one can help everyone, but everyone can help someone. So let's each do our part while we are here and make the world we live in a better place. We were put here for such a time as this.

You can pray this with me if you like:

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I thank You for putting me here for such a time as this. Please help me get in tune with what You are doing, and fulfill my part of Your plan! I am Yours. Use me as You like. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen!

Note: Happy Valentine's Day! May the love of God shine over you and yours!