Most of us have heard that we’ve been created for a purpose.
The Apostle Paul tells believers that, “For we are God’s workmanship created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10
Having a personal mission in life is of great interest to millions. No wonder Rick Warren’s ‘The Purpose Driven Life’ became and remains the bestselling hardcover non-fiction book in history and has now tallied over 32 million sales. It is the second most translated book after the Bible.
God created you and me for a reason, it might not be singing on American Idol, but each and every one of us has a specific purpose. Everyone is here for a reason. Even though all of us are created for a God-designed mission we unintentionally get sidetracked along the way.
By default we let our lives center around something other than what we were created for. For some it may be filling our lives with too much TV or just keeping ourselves busy with unimportant pursuits. Unknowingly we allow our everyday choices to determine if we will live according to our divine purpose. It’s our choice. In the book of Esther we’ll see how daily choices can become divine opportunities.
The powerful King Xerxes had everything he wanted including the most beautiful women. The king was known for showing off his wealth at his many banquets. To further impress the people the king put on an elaborate banquet for the entire capital. The banquet included unlimited drinking, “the king instructed his servants to serve each man whatever he wished.”
On the seventh day of the party Xerxes “was high in spirits,” demanded that his beautiful Queen Vashti be brought in so he could show off her beauty before all his drunken guests. When she refused the king was absolutely humiliated and furious! After all, she was one of his prideful possessions and no one ever dared to stand up to the King especially in public! He asked his advisors, “What should I do with my wife?”
Their solution was to banish the queen from the king forever and launch a nationwide search for a new and improved Queen (Esther 2:2). Can you guess what the criteria was for the next Queen? Let the Babylonian Idol beauty pageant begin.
With cameras flashing, countless women from all over the country walked the catwalk in hopes to become the king’s ultimate trophy wife. It’s hard to believe that there once was a culture that was so superficial that old men would lure beautiful young women with their fame and money?
One of the beauty contestants was the adopted Jewish orphan Esther who was chosen with several other women to participate in twelve months of beauty treatments before being brought before the king. How does that sound ladies? Finally Esther won the competition and was crowned the Queen. Esther 2:15-17
Following her Uncle Mordecai’s wishes, she kept her Jewish nationality a secret. Now, her mission in life was to be the arm candy for the most powerful man in the world and “live happily ever after.” Maybe or maybe not?
Behind the scenes, there is another story taking place. Mordecai uncovers a plot to kill king Xerxes and tells Esther who informs the king and his life is saved. Although he saved the king’s life Mordecai was virtually unnoticed.
Have you ever felt unappreciated or taken advantage of after you’ve done something significant for someone? Perhaps some recognition or a reward would be in order? How about a thank you? Not going to happen, at least not now.
Later, Mordecai refuses to bow down to Haman, the king’s second in command and Haman is absolutely enraged. Haman’s anger swells even more when he discovers that Mordecai is Jewish and he begins his plan to exterminate all the Jews of Babylon.
Join us next time as we see Esther’s bravery in engaging with what she was truly created for!
