For Such a Time As This

^“For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”  Esther 4:14 (ESV)

In the month of June, the CCN UT Team had many opportunities to share the gospel with Black Lives Matters protesters at the steps of the Texas State Capital Building. In the picture above, we see a large group of protesters approaching the Capital building where we were set up. We praise God for the opportunity to share the gospel with such a large crowd and we pray for all those who heard the gospel message. 

One of the most unique things about the book of Esther is that God is never explicitly mentioned. However, God’s providential hand is seen throughout the entire book as He orchestrates the events that occur. In this book, God raises a young Jewish girl (Esther) to a place of prominence among a godless nation. At a critical point in the story, Esther is faced with a very difficult decision. She must decide whether she is willing to risk her life and speak up for truth or stay quiet and perish. Prior to facing this decision, her wise uncle Mordecai gives her the following admonition.

“For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” Esther 4:14

This statement demonstrates Mordecai’s understanding of God’s sovereignty. Mordecai understands that God’s purposes will be accomplished with or without his niece. However, He also understands that in His sovereignty, God has providentially raised up his niece for this very purpose. Thankfully, Esther makes the right decision saving her people and teaching us some valuable lessons along the way.

First, we live in a time in history where God “seems” to be absent. The fact that the book of Esther never mentions God, makes it seem as if God was absent at that point in time. The same is true in our society today. As we look around us, we see a global pandemic that is killing hundreds of thousands of people. In our own country, political and racial tensions have reached boiling points. There are countless protesters on the streets calling for an overthrow of our way of life. So, where is God in all of this? As Christians, we affirm that during all of this, God is exactly where He needs to be, sitting on His throne. Just as God used the events recounted to us in the book of Esther to bring about His glory, He is working the events in our day for the same purpose. As Christians, we understand that all this “craziness” is orchestrated by God for our good and for His glory!

Secondly, just as God raised Esther into that kingdom “for such a time as this,” He too has also raised us up into His kingdom for such a time as this! We must be willing to speak up for truth among this craziness even at the risk of our personal safety! Jesus once stated that “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” Jesus calls us to die to ourselves and to follow him. We must not be afraid to speak out against protesters or demonstrator. We have the very words of life given to us by God Himself and our message is the only message that has any hope of bringing about reconciliation. In His providence, God has raised us up for campus ministry at a time when the campuses are closed due to the corona virus. However, this is no coincidence. Instead of going on to college campuses, God has ordained that we go to the State Capital here in Austin, Texas to witness to tourist and protesters instead. And even though at times it seemed as if our safety was in jeopardy, God kept His protective hand over us.

Third, God will accomplish His purpose with or without our help. But what a privilege it is to be a part of His glorious plan! Mordecai told Esther that if she remained silent God would bring relief from another place. However, Esther did not remain silent and her people were saved through her. This is true for us as well. If we fail to heed to our commission to go to the nations and bring the gospel, God will bring about the salvation of His elect by other means (that is, He will raised others to do instead). However, what a great privilege it is to be used as tool in the hands of our Redeemer to bring about the salvation of many. Please be in prayer for all those individuals who have heard the gospel message through our ministry. Special prayers to all those who seemed receptive and responded positively to the call for repentance and faith.

There are many more things that we could learn from the book of Esther, but the most important thing to remember is that God is there, and He is not silent! He has revealed Himself to us and we who have repented and believed in Him can see His providential hand in all that occurs in our life. As believers we have the privilege to be used by God to bring about His purposes, but we must make ourselves available. 

Lord, we pray that you use us to accomplish your will for our good and your glory, Amen!

The Christian Collegian Network University of Texas Team evangelizing in downtown Austin. 

Ministry Update

• Our ministry has been going out every Saturday to preach the gospel at the State Capitol in downtown Austin.
• We have been conducting a Bible Study via Zoom every Thursday night. The topics for this month included, 1) Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God, 2) An Atheist Walks into a Simple Cell, and 3) The Greatest Miracle of all (Regeneration). We missed one week of training because of a family emergency with one of our Campus Leaders.
• Campus Leader Francisco Nieves officially joined the CCN UT Team.
• The CCN UT Team along with some of our other friends gathered to watch the “Evolution Exposed” conference hosted via ZOOM by Living Waters.
• We had a time of fellowship at Thomas McLaughlin house to celebrate Thomas Foster’s 62nd birthday.

Campus Leader Tom McLaughlin goes through the good person test and gospel presentation at Republic square park in downtown Austin, Texas.

Praise Reports

• Although College Campuses are closed, we praised God that He has allowed us to witness to BLM protestors and tourist in front of the State Capital.
• We praise God for the many individuals who seemed to respond positively to the gospel message as we are out preaching.
• Praise God for raising up a committed team of Christians who consistently come out with the CCN UT Team to witness.
• Praise God for the quick recover of one of our Campus Leader’s wife who spent a few nights at the hospital this month.
• Praise God for allowing Campus Leader Thomas Foster to celebrate his 62^nd birthday this month.

Campus Leader Thomas Foster preaches to a large group  of Black Lives Matter protesters about the only message with any hope of reconciliation, the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

Prayer Request

• Please pray for everyone who hears the gospel message while we are out preaching.
• Pray that God will continue to raise up more workers as we approach the beginning of the school year.
• Please pray that God will bring to us many college students who we can disciple and who will evangelize their peers.
• Pray that we continue to grow in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior.
• Pray for the health of our friends and family members.

Campus Leader Francisco Nieves witnesses in Spanish to a tourist at the front steps of the Capital Building in Downtown Austin.