For Such a Time as This

I am not telling you anything new when I tell you that we are in uncertain times. Very disturbing times. Sometimes I sit back and watch and think, "I can see these terrible and horrible things happening and I don't know what to do. It feels out of my hands." It is a sometimes frightening and helpless feeling. I don't like it!

This morning as I was praying and thinking about all of this, a couple of stories from the Bible came to my mind. I remembered the one about the woman that dropped a stone from the wall and killed the commander of the enemy's army. 'And a certain woman threw an upper millstone on Abimelech’s head and crushed his skull' Judges 9:53 That one woman, through a seemingly simple act, changed the whole course of that war and saved the city. Then the story of Esther came to me. The line we hear so often, "For such a time as this." Esther had been put in a position of influence, but only if the king granted it to her. Mordecai, her uncle, was in a position of influence in the city and with Esther. And then there were the people of God. As I began to think of this story I wondered what place do we have in history and in God's plan for such a time as this? 

Perhaps we are in a position of influence, like the King, so that when evil is exposed we can act upon it and make it right  Maybe our position of influence is like Mordecai, to encourage the people that can to go to those in power. Or maybe, like Esther we are the one to go and to expose the evil to those in power, even when we are afraid. It's important to remember that she agreed to go to the king only if God's people fasted and prayed. Esther knew that when she went to the King that she needed the army of God to make a way and give her favor. She needed the army of God to fight for her! 

It is so important to see where God has put us for such a time as this. I believe so strongly that God has placed the PARC here at this place in this time for a reason and a purpose. So, this is what I have decided. I believe that God knew what would be happening in our history when He put the PARC right here doing what we do. And He needs us to do our part. He needs us to stand and fight for this territory. The territory of where our building will stand, the territory of redeeming the lives of those who are hopeless and homeless. This is my part. THIS is what I will do, and I will do it with all my might. These are the things that make a difference in the plans that the Lord has for us, for our city and for our country. To take our stand and fight in the position and place where we are.

We must all ask ourselves, what is our part? What it is it that God has put in front of you? How are we to participate? Are we to go, to give, or fast and pray? What position has he given you and what realm of influence do you have? Whatever it is, we must do it! And when the Lord gives us those plans that He intends for us, we must go. We must do it even when we don't understand and even when we are afraid. We must do our part. Nothing is insignificant. No ONE is insignificant. Maybe we are the one who will throw the stone off the wall, or even the historian who reads to the King. All we know for sure is that God put us here, in this place for such a time as this. Let's stand in our place, with our weapons that are placed in our hands and use them for God's purposes and His way. For our city, for our state and for our country.