I got the title for this post from a saying extracted from the book of Esther. Her uncle asked her to approach the king – her husband – in order to save her people. The action could have ended in her death… but it didn’t. And her people survived. After hearing this phrase at a recent celebration of Esther’s story, a thought came to me.

Was Esther the only one born for “such a time as this”? The Lord brought to mind several Bible characters. Although the phrase is not used in these settings, the concept is still there. Tell me what you think.

What if David had not gone out to fight Goliath? He had a choice to make. Fight the giant and show him that God is in control OR go back to his sheep tending. (1 Samuel 17) What a difference it made in the results of the battle and eventually the nation.

How about Gideon? He was hiding when the angel approached him. It took some convincing. (Judges 6-8) Still he did choose to do as directed. What a difference that made for his people at that time.

Let’s not forget Moses. Yes, he initially tried to find every reason to not go back to Egypt. (Exodus 3-4) Eventually, he chose to return to that place of hardness and wickedness, to a people who might not accept him. His willingness to lead a rebellious, grumbling group through the wilderness changed history for God’s nation.

Looking at the years after Esther, the first one we see in the New Testament is a young girl by the name of Mary. (Luke 1) The timing was right, the world was crazy and in need of the Messiah. But she had to accept the “such a time as this” call. What a difference this made for the world for ALL time.

The next one I want to mention is John the Baptizer. (Matthew 3) He accepted the call to prepare a way for the LORD while living in the wilderness. Many were ready when the Messiah began His ministry.

Accepting these calls on their lives did not mean they had smooth sailing. They hit rough spots, tough times, but they knew they were called by God. It wasn’t referred to as a “such a time as this” decision, but that is what it was.

The question is now – in light of the current status of the world, when life looks topsy-turvy, are we being called to do something that fits the “such a time as this” magnitude?

It could be something small or scary. Maybe you haven’t thought about it. Indeed, these are interesting times when it looks more and more like Jesus will be returning soon. We have been chosen to be here at this time in history. We ARE here for such a time as this. But we’re NOT to sit around and watch. We are to act or speak in some way.

What are you being called to do for such a time as this?