The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1903-09-23
SUPREME OPPORTUNITY
A Brilliant Sunday Sermon By Rev
Cornelius Woelfkin.
The Fascinating Biblical Rom ,.nce Of Esther
Seize Your Opportuuity ResoIuteiy.


chose as his text Esther iv: IA: "Who
knoweth whether thou art come to tho
kingdom for such time as this" MIR.
Woelfkin said:
The history of Esther is fascinating
romance. Every changing scene In the
panorama is a graphic illul .ration OF the
providence of God. 1t traces the transi.
weakness to power. The scene opens
showing Esther. an orphan girl belonging
to a captive and despised race. Naturally,
every door OF influence would be closed to
her. Alone in the world, dcpenden. upon
a cousins bounty, the horizon OF ner life
was limited. Her chief endowment was
beauty, and that, as the world goes, is
more likely to become a snare of evil than
a benediction of good Yet, behind this
humble, modest lie there is working the
might, wisdom and love OF God. The
Queens throne is empty. The royal crown
mood of the King. Thousands of gentle
blood dream of the Queens place as the
acme OF al ambition. Bat the providence
OF Jehovah has reserved the place for
Esther, the orphaned Jewish girl.
This same divine power seeks 20 mold
every life. The circumstances and condi-
tions that environ us may not seem prom
isng. But what are these with God? His
strength is made perfect in weakness. The
vast majority of men and women who have
made the molds OF history were those
whom Gods providence brought from OBJ
scurity and iowly conditions. Your way is
not hid from the Almighty. There is
place held vacant for Your filling. That
place is as honored and dignhed us anv
royal throne, because it is dvine,y APP
pointed. The steps leading thereto may
seem to be contingencies, accidents, for
tuitous chances, and through the moods of
other persons. But if there be the spirit
nf fnIf IN trfto Il 20
His will and readiness to obey, He will
bring. us to the pace and position most
suited for our eternal profit and glory. No
one else may step into our place, until we,
through unbelief and disobedence, have
forfeited the privilege of its occupancy.
Every life has its own unique endow.
ment. Success or failure depends upon the
manner in which we hold these posses.
sions. If we ho.d them se.fshly to profit
ourselves withal, they turn into corrup.
ton. But if they be held in trust as a sa-
cred stewardship, used for the furtherance
Of His purposes and the bringing of His
Kingdom, they will turn ont eternal treas.
ures. Our temptation is to discredt our
possessions and opportunities. But we may
G0t despse the day OF small things.
Esther had on.y personal beauty to com-
mend her at first. This is not gift de-
spised by Satan in his attempt to ruin
soul; then why should it be discredited as
power for goody The lad had only five
loaves and two fishes. but consecrated TO
His service, they fed the mu 'ttudc and
more. IL al turns upon whether we are
using our endowments in the interest OF
self and by the energy OF SET, or whether
we are living agd working in cooperation
with Him and for His CORY. The form OF
life will vary. God does not duplicate
and make all lives to conform to like pat
tern. There was vast difference between
the captive maid that served in Naaman's
home and the orphan captive who mounted
the Persian throne, but it was the same
God who worked in each.
The orphan girl became the bounteous
queen. She enjoys the honors and emolu-
ments of royalty. Banquets are held in her
honor and retinue of servants minister
to her continually. Can she support the
dignity thus thrust upon her! Will adu.
lati9n, fiattery and vanity encrvate her
souls ability, or will she grow strong and
potent for good amid opportunities? Only
trial can answer such queries, and that
comes soon enough. From the outer word
she hears the lamentation OF her kindred
people. Mordecai. her cousin, is in sack
cloth and mourning and would not be
comforted. All the captivcs are wailing
with fear. What could it mean? If she
had only been party to the conference be.
tween her royal husband and the prime
minister prince she would have understood
l. she could see all the clerks writing the
sentences of death which were being hur.
ried throughout the empire she would have
known. She seems to be exempt. Does
she not dwell in the palace. But the
blackness oyershadows her even there.
No circumstance or condition can shut it
out The court OF Persia permitted no one
wearing sack cloth, that symbol of sorrow
and mourning, to enter the royal pre-
cncts. They would not be disturbed bv
painful reminders OF life's sorrows But
evea the royal purple can neither ignore
nor escape them. The tragedies of life are
not shut out by hiding and ignoring them.
We can huld no barrier that will prevent
their invasion.
The Redeemer of the world did not ie-
more them. He did not Isolate Himself
from human woe, but through suffering
became a Saviour, forgiving sir. bringing
glory out of the crucib,e OF suffering and
planting the light of hope amid the
shadows OF death. II Esther seeks to save
her life alone she will lose it. Bnt il in
seeking to save Others she lose it. she shall
save it. We cannot in time of epidemic
think OF ourselves alone. Individual care.
fulness will prove fatal.
There came moment OF despair to
Esther. What can she do more than 9TH
ers. She had not been called into .th;
Kings presence for whole month. And
to venture nnbidden might mean death
She had her limitations. Even her postio
seemed unequal to the need. Her priv =.
eges fell short. 1t ia ALWAYS so A grav,
crisis ever brings the shadow OF despair
There are problems that confront every
generation that seem inso,uble. We become
bewildered and perp.exed; we feel our in.
adequacy and despair. This perp,exity and
despair is purely human. Its shadow never
falls upon the throne OF God. He shall
not fail nor be discouraged till He hath set
Judgment in the earth. All that BE re.
qures is an instrument that will not ba,k
at the cost, and He brings speedy relief
Let rs fling the sacrifice OF life into the
situation. and nothing shall be impossible
to u.s. II is this desire to keep our skins
Whole, and to conserve our personal ease
and comfort that makes situations difficult.
Paul was. an optimist. because he threw
his life into the crisis. Comfort. ease,
quiet. pleasure, were rot aimed Mt by him,
therefore he could confidently write: II am
perpiexed. yet not unto despair; pursued,
yet not forsaken smitten down, vet not
destroyed" Selfishness brings the mid.
night, sef'sacrifce the dawn.
Then followed Esther's heroic resolve.
crisis always develops the character. In
moment she read the meaning of her
providentlal experiences. She saw some
things Of Gods plan in her life. Why had
she been exalted from the lowiy position
OF an orphan to the regal dignity of a
queen? Why had she been preferred above
all Others for this great place? The mean
ing begins to crystalize. God foresaw this
time as this was Esther come to the king
dom. In the very heart Of that gravest
difficulty lay her supreme opportunity. Our
greatest moments are often set in darkest
circumstances. The providences OF tod
have shaped our course, and there is pur-