Heaven Set In Motion Series

Introduction

Video Ill.: The Story of Esther - Second Look Films (segment 3)

We are continuing our study today based loosely on Max Lucado’s book, You Were Made for This Moment.

When we started, we saw that Esther and Mordecai just wanted to blend in — to be cosy in the Persian culture. Don’t stand out. Don’t be different. Just fit in.

But God has called us to be set apart — to be different — to be holy, because He is holy. Sometimes that means we have to make hard decisions in our lives.

Last week, we learned that we have to be prepared to make the tough decisions — we need to have a plan in place before the storm comes. We need God’s full armor to be able to stand firm when we are standing up for God. And maybe, just maybe, God has put us where we are because He has some purpose in mind for us. We were made for just a time as this.

As we begin today, when we think about God, there are many views of God in our world today.

America's Four Gods

Source: Paul Froese and Christopher Bader, America's Four Gods (Oxford, 2010)

https://www.preachingtoday.com/illustrations/2010/december/2121310.html

Copied from Preaching Today

According to the authors of the book America's Four Gods, Americans differ widely from one another on two key areas of belief about God: (1) the level of God's engagement in our world, and (2) the extent of God's judgment of evildoers.

In other words, is God actively and meticulously engaged in what happens in your life and in your world? Or is he distant, remote, uncaring? And secondly, does God judge wrongdoers in this life? Does God express wrath toward people and nations in this age? Or is God only kind, forgiving, and helpful to people in need?

Based on those two differences, the authors say that Americans divide into four major understandings of God.

First is the Authoritative God. The Authoritative God is very involved in the world to help people and does judge evildoers in this life. Even so, he is loving, and is seen as a Father figure. The author's research shows that 31 percent of Americans have this understanding of God.

Second is the Benevolent God. The Benevolent God is very involved in this world to help people but does not feel anger toward evildoers and does not judge anyone. Twenty-four percent of Americans have this understanding of God.

Third is the Critical God. The Critical God does not involve himself in the affairs of this world or its people, but he does take careful note of how people live and will judge them in the afterlife, holding them to account for evils done. Sixteen percent of Americans have this understanding of God.

Fourth is the Distant God. The Distant God is more a cosmic force or Higher Power than a person. This God created everything but is no longer engaged with the world and does not judge its inhabitants. Twenty-four percent of Americans have this understanding of God.

Five percent of Americans are atheists.

Concerning agnostics, the authors write: "We find that when pressed, individuals who first describe themselves as 'agnostic' are actually believers in a Distant God. For the most part, agnosticism is a reaction to conventional images of God that strike the believer as mistaken."

I would take that one step further and say that there is another view, which may be entwined and a combination of the first two, but is more like this: God is the creator and sustainer of all the world. In other words, God is actively involved in the world.

How we see God has a huge impact on how we live our lives. It affects our morals, our science, our money and possessions, our culture, and how we see everything in the world.

Scripture teaches us in Hebrews 1:3 that it is God who upholds all things the power of His word.

3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His being, sustaining all things by His powerful word. (Hebrews 1, NIV)

God is upholding, as one translation reads, is sustaining, is keeping this world going. God is absolutely involved in this world — by His powerful word.

This is never more evident than in the next part of Esther and Mordecai’s story. God has certainly orchestrated the events in today’s text.

Let’s look at these events a little deeper this morning.

The events

Our story takes us to after when Esther has approached the King. She has already entered his chambers and was given grace and mercy because of his love for her.

Esther has already made her request — a intimate dinner with just the King and Haman.

Haman comes over to the palace for the dinner. All goes well. Everyone has a wonderful time at dinner.