For Such a Time as This

Have you ever wondered why you were born in the place and time you were born? I have. When I was a child, I thought of what it would be like to live when Jesus walked the shores of Galilee or when early American settlers traveled west in covered wagons. I loved to read historical novels, and I often imagined what it would be like to live in a different place or time.

Now I know that God has put us in the time and place in which we live. He has a plan for our lives.

I was reminded of this recently while reading the Old Testament book of Esther. When Queen Esther was faced with the prospect of her people being killed, her uncle Mordecai asked her to request an audience with the king. However, she knew that if the king was displeased with her, she could be killed.

Consider these verses from the Old Testament.

Esther 4:13-14 Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king’s house, more than all the Jews. For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father’s house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?

Esther chose to face her fear and speak to the king. That required faith, prayer, and courage. Thankfully, the Jews were saved, including Esther and Mordecai.

God has placed us when and where we are to do His will.

In our culture, the commandments of the Bible are often rejected by today’s society. Things that were accepted when I was a child are now ridiculed by millions of Americans. Children are sent to school for an education, but instead they’re often taught an agenda that goes against God.

I’m concerned for our country, especially for the children. If we don’t teach them the truth from God’s Word, they’ll end up believing the lies of the world.

Where do these lies come from? They come from Satan, the father of lies. He’s the great deceiver. We must overcome his lies with God’s truth. Consider the following Bible verses.

Deuteronomy 6:6-7 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.

Judges 2:10-11 And also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers: and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the Lord, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel. And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord, and served Baalim:

Psalms 78:4-8 We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the Lord, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done. For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children: That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children: That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments: And might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation; a generation that set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not stedfast with God.

Friends, as we look at young people today, we see many who are confused and unsure about what to believe. Many are depressed and even suicidal. We need to reach them with God’s truth. The true and living God of the Bible offers hope and joy that only come through faith in God and a personal relationship with Christ. We must redeem the time and ask the Lord how He wants us to serve Him in sharing His truth with the children.

In Matthew chapter 18, the Lord Jesus is teaching about young children. In verses 12-14, He compares some to lost sheep.

How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray? And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray. Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.

Many children in our society have gone astray. They need to hear the truth from God’s Word. They need to understand the gospel and have a valid opportunity to receive Christ. When they receive Christ, they’re sealed with the Holy Spirit.

As Paul writes in I Corinthians 2:14, But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

We must redeem the time and ask the Lord how He wants us to serve Him in sharing His truth with the children. Let’s teach them how to receive Christ and follow Him and then teach them how to grow to know God better. Then they’ll be able to live their lives to glorify Him.

Perhaps God has placed you here for such a time as this. Will you ask Him what He wants you to do and ask Him to give you the strength and the courage to do it?