Year of Realization - Day 33: Be prepared to give it all.

“Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: “Go and gather together all the Jews of Susa and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will do the same. And then, though it is against the law, I will go in to see the king. If I must die, I must die.” So Mordecai went away and did everything as Esther had ordered him.”

‭‭Esther‬ ‭4‬:‭15‬-‭17‬ ‭NLT‬‬

President Lincoln in his now iconic “Gettysburg Address” (1863), said the following:

“It is rather for us here dedicated to the great task remaining before us, that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion.”

The three day war at Gettysburg rendered thousands dead and many more thousands wounded. Lincoln’s words well-encapsulated what had happened on those grounds made sacred with the blood of our nation’s sons.

So, what is it that drives people to lay down their lives for some greater cause?

Now, whereas we know that there are tragically misdirected notions of actually seeking martyrdom, in terms of those who have fought for our nation, many were simply embodying the words of our Lord:

“Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.”

‭‭John‬ ‭15‬:‭13‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

For the most part, unless you are suicidal, you have a great inner reflex to preserve your life. And indeed, this is as it should be in that our life is a precious gift from God. But, sometimes a moment calls for something that transcends the need for self preservation.

This higher call is illustrated when a mother pushes her child out of harms way to have her own life taken in the process. This higher call is illustrated when a soldier falls on a mine to save his company. This higher call is illustrated when someone jumps onto a train track to try to pull someone else to safety. This higher call is illustrated when emergency workers—or even just a passerby—runs into a burning building to try to save someone’s life. Yes, it is the last full measure of devotion when a life is willingly laid down for a greater cause.

Sometimes the call to abandon that reflex toward preserving your life at all costs comes in obedience to the will of God and/or being faithful to Him. And that brings us back to Esther.

Over the last couple of days we have seen that Esther— having accepted the call to plead the case of the Jews to the king—determined to prepare herself spiritually and has called for spiritual agreement from the other Jews in Susa. But, ultimately, we see that her resolve is that she will do this thing no matter what the cost.

I believe that some things are worse than death. And one of those things is knowing you could have done something great, something good, something right, but you held back.

Now, God doesn’t call many to be martyrs. Indeed, we will see that He worked the situation out for Esther. But, the point is that the time may come when it seems that the only way to preserve your life, would be to deny the Lord or shrink from what He has called you to do. We must resolve ahead of that time that drawing back from Him is never, ever, an option.

Peace to you.

Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!

#yearofrealization