John 10:18, New Living Translation

“No one can take my life from me. I sacrifice it voluntarily…”

Recently, my personal Bible study time was in the book of Esther, and as many have said, you can learn something new and receive fresh inspiration as you read the same passage again. This time, while I was reading, the focus in this book was no longer only about Esther or Mordecai, but about Jesus and His salvation.

Esther’s statement, “…if I perish, I perish” (Esther 4:16), reminds me of Jesus’ words: “Not my will, but yours be done” (Luke 22:42). To us, it should also be a good reminder of the words of the apostle Paul: “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20, NIV)

Back to the book of Esther, we can see the exile of the nation, just as mankind was sent out of Eden. We can see Esther hiding her real identity before the king, just as Adam and Eve hid before God. We can see how she trembled as she approached the king, just as we approached God before Christ made the Way. We can see how the king extended the golden scepter to spare the life of the one approaching him, just as the Father extends His grace through the cross to offer us salvation.

Is this not the purpose of the Word of God, the Bible: the gospel of Christ, salvation for life, and relationship with the Creator?

What then? After acknowledging and accepting the truth, leaning on and following our Savior Jesus, next is this: “…Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:13-14, NIV)

Do not think that because we are saved in the name of Jesus, it is done and we can remain silent at such a time as this! Somewhere out there, there are many who do not know, have not heard, or do not understand the gospel of Christ. Somewhere out there, there are many who are living in fear, hopelessness, lies, or are even deceived into believing that life can be found without Jesus. Instead, they are walking toward the wide gate and the broad road that lead to destruction, the wages of sin, everlasting death, and separation from God.

What is so horrific about that? If God is love, He is light, and in Him there is joy, peace, and life, then separation from Him means separation from love. It means living in forever darkness and loneliness, where there is no joy but sorrow, no peace but torment, no freedom for the breath of life, but chains in eternal fire.

As imitators of Jesus, should we carry His heart? Surely, yes! So let us be like those who carried out the commands of God in the Bible we read. Go and spread the gospel and hope of Christ!