THE K I N G ’ S BUS I NESS
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faithful message to Esther. It was like a summons from God. God pre pares men for emergencies. David was iull-fledged when Goliath met him. Elijah was prepared to meet Baal’s priests. Paul was'thrust into the con flict when the church was launched. Luther stood at the threshold of the new era, and Wesley was on time. The world has passed through many crises, with the accelerated speed of six thousand years, and rushes on to its doom. The world faces a crisis today, and so does the church, and God is lay ing hold of men. There never was a better opportunity for men to do things for God than today. The doors are wide open everywhere. There are" op portunities for all classes and conditions of men. The foundations are being shaken. Men are seeking to rob the church of its power; seeking to strip it of its beauty; tearing to pieces the Bible; introducing the doctrines of the devil. What does it mean that God permits us to live in this present age? “Who knows but thou art come into the kingdom for such a time as this?” Opportunity Implies responsibility. The larger the opportunity the greater the responsibility. (2) THE PERILS OF OPPORTUNITY. Mordecai. demanded of his foster daughter, Esther, that she make a plea for her people. In doing this she was to run a great risk. She was to take her life in her hands. There were risks anyway. To delay meant her own de thronement, as a Jewess, and her de struction. She nerved herself with fasting and prayer. Mordecai’s faith was In God. God’s promise is unchanging for Israel (Jer. 30111) “For I am with thee, eaith the Lord, to save thee i though I make a full end of all nations whither I have scattered thee, yet will I not make a full end of thee; hut I
will correct thee in measure, and will not leave thee altogether unpunished.” And this is true also concerning His purposes with reference to the church, (Matt 16^18) “And I say unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my ehurch, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” There are always perils, real perils, in connection with service. We cannot go forward without incurring perils. But there are also dangers in refusing to go forward, when God summons by His Word. Many have found this true to their cost. He has taught us to rejoice in the testings that come to us (1 Pet. 1:6, 7) “Wherein ye greatly rejoice though now, for a season, if need he, ye are In heavi ness through manifold temptations. That the trial of your faith being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of the Lord Jesus Christ.” There were dangers before Israel when they entered the Promised Land. There were perils before Paul. But glory to follow. If we would be faithful, we must run risks. (3) THE PRIVILEGES. OF OPPOR TUNITY. Esther was given the joy of under taking for her people. No other queen coiild accomplish what had been given her to do. No other opportunity would be hers. Only one chance in her life. Should she fail to improve it, God would raise up someone else. How solemn the thought! Suppose she consults her inclination, trifles with the privilege, de lays to do— the opportunity will be gone. “ There is a tide in the affairs of men, which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune.”
Opportunity comes to all. To some it comes but once.- How sad it would be to miss our opportunity! To be weighed in the balance and found wanting!'What an opportunity King Saul had! What an opportunity Moses had and lost! What an opportunity Demas had! And what an opportunity Judas had— and YOU CAN INVEST $1.00 OR $1,000.00
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