The Stand of Your Life

Esther was out of time.

Three days had passed so quickly. Today was the day. The day Esther would go to the king. Possibly the last day of her life.

She stood on the balcony of her personal chambers, just trying to gather her barrings. Humidity settled on her like a blanket. Warm air filled her lungs, and consoled her heart, as if to say, "There, there, Esther."

"If I perish, I perish." Her words had haunted her every thought for three days. Hoping and praying for some other form of deliverance. An easier way that didn't involve her. Was it too late to get out of this? Probably so, but that wouldn't stop her from begging Yahweh for a way out of this mess one last time.

It was time.

Making her way back inside her chambers, the young maidens helped her dress. They hardly said a word. They had been praying and fasting with Esther for three days now, and they knew the weight of this decision. So instead of chattering, they brought her finest royal robes, and intricately wove her hair into an elaborate vision of curls and jewels. However, all too soon they were done.

Her palms were sweating, and her heart was beating so fast, she almost thought it would quit out of sheer exhaustion. She made her way towards the king's court, each step proclaiming her impending doom. The massive doors loomed before her, and the luxurious fabrics of her robes swirled to a stop around her legs. This was it. The herald looked at her expectantly, but she shook her head, signaling for him to wait.

There's still time to run and pretend like you never came. Oh, how Esther wanted to do just that! But there was no chance she would run. Mordecai was right; she had been brought here for such a time as this. She would do her part. She had given the outcome, and her life, into Yahweh's hands.

Esther nodded to the herald, and as he announced her unauthorized visit, she stepped into the king's court.

It was time to see what Yahweh had in store.

Based on Esther 4:16-5:1

This is Esther's big stand. As soon as those doors flung open and Esther went into the king's court that is when she made her big stand of faith. That is when Esther put some action behind her bold words. It's one thing to say, "I'll go to the king, and if I perish, I perish." It's another to actually put your life in the hands of an unpredictable king and his potential rage.

"One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much." Luke 16:10

 This verse is normally used for it's obvious context, and I know we looked at that earlier, but this statement was never just meant to pacify, console, and admonish. It was also meant as an inheritance. If you are faithful in the little things, then you will get big things.

Esther had been faithful in the little things God had put before her. God was giving her a big thing, a call, a destiny. Would she be faithful to follow it?

There comes a day, a time, a place, when God calls upon each of us to make a stand for Him. It is not a little stand. It is not a training stand. It's not a stand for someone else. It is a stand God has given uniquely to you. Your "for such a time as this." If you have been faithful, that day will come.

What matters next is your action. Will you stand-even if it costs your life? We say we would be willing to die for our Lord, but what if that moment actually came?

Esther's stand said, "I am willing to die for this, for my God, for His will." All the fluff disappeared in that court room. She had given it all to God.

"And he said to all, 'If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.'" Luke 9:23-24

My friends, will you stand for God, even if it means losing your life, and thus finding it in God? It is the stand of your life, given wholly to God.