Don't Settle for the Suit!

This morning I read a most insightful, instructive passage in the book of Esther.  After Haman felt slighted by Mordecai, he inquired and discovered his Jewish ancestry.  Haman decided the punishment of Mordecai was insufficient, and treacherously schemed to destroy all Jewish people.  He influenced the king to give him permission to destroy this "certain people scattered among the provinces" who refused to keep the king's commands, and this permission was granted.  Mordecai and all the Jews mourned this grave injustice, clothed themselves with sackcloth, and wailed bitterly.  Queen Esther, though a Jewess, was ignorant of Haman's plans to destroy the Jewish people because she lived in relative isolation in the palace.

When I read chapter four, the living Word sprang to life before my eyes.  Esther 4:1-4 reads, "When Mordecai learned all that had happened, he tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the midst of the city. He cried out with a loud and bitter cry. ² He went as far as the front of the king's gate, for no one might enter the king's gate clothed with sackcloth. ³ And in every province where the king's command and decree arrived, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting, weeping, and wailing; and many lay in sackcloth and ashes. ⁴ So Esther's maids and eunuchs came and told her, and the queen was deeply distressed. Then she sent garments to clothe Mordecai and take his sackcloth away from him, but he would not accept them."  Esther heard of how bitterly her cousin mourned, and she was "deeply distressed."  In every province the Jews made a great mourning, but it was not until her family was directly affected that Esther was moved.  This is no fault of her own, but a common response among all people.  Her next move was one I found particularly interesting.

Without inquiring at all about the cause of Mordecai's mourning, Esther sent garments to clothe Moredecai and to take his sackcloth away from him.  Mordecai refused.  New clothes would not solve the problem which faced him and the Jewish people.  Esther's offer, though she meant well, missed the point.  She did the same thing many of us can do.  We are not as concerned about the cause of mourning as how we can stop it.  Mordecai's distress caused Esther distress and it did not please her at all.  It was only after he refused her gift she did what she should have done at the beginning:  ask concerning the cause of Mordecai's suffering.  Esther 4:5 says, "Then Esther called Hathach, one of the king's eunuchs whom he had appointed to attend her, and she gave him a command concerning Mordecai, to learn what and why this was."  Subsequently she received a copy of the edict against her people and discovered her own life hung in the balance.

The thing which stuck me was, what if Mordecai had been content to receive the clothes from the hand of his royal cousin?  What if he had put off his sackcloth to please her, and never informed her of the purpose for mourning?  It could have meant the death of Mordecai, Esther, and all the Jews!  Here is a question for personal consideration:  how would you respond if you were in Mordedai's position and your death was imminent?  Imagine you had been sick for a while and went to the doctor for a diagnosis.  How would you feel if the doctor sat down grimly and said, "Permit me to be blunt:  you are going to die."  After communicating the severity of your condition, he continued:  "The good thing is you are not beyond hope.  If you will make some major adjustments to your diet and lifestyle, in time your condition could be completely reversed."  What do you do?  Would you value your life to faithfully practice all the doctor ordered and avoid all the foods and practices forbidden?  There are few with such self-control and resolve.  Humans are a curious, difficult bunch.  We want to live, but for some life is only worth living on our terms - even if it means our destruction.

One of the takeaways for me from the passage is that I should never be satisfied with a new suit when it is salvation I need.  Mordecai was not content to be comforted when he and his people needed an advocate.  Churches are growing old and dying all over the world.  Should a dying church be content with more congregants, new buildings, better sound systems, and increased offerings when it is the indwelling presence and power of the Holy Spirit we need?  If God is not in our midst, can we be comforted with anything less?  Should we be pleased with position, authority, or accolades when we have ceased to walk in love or do not experience peace that passes understanding?  How foolish it would be to substitute knowledge of God instead of a relationship with God He freely offers by His grace.  Don't settle, believer.  God has given us exceedingly great and precious promises.  We have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ.  We are invited to come boldly ourselves into His throne room of grace ourselves so we might have mercy and grace in time of need.  Mordecai was not permitted to wear his sackcloth inside the gate of the King - but we can!  Are you burdened, troubled, or mourning?  Enter into His presence now by faith, for He will by no means cast out any who come to Him.