Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1903-09-26
SUPREME OPPORTUNITY
A Brilliant Sunday Sermon By Rev.
Cornelius W0eIfkin.
The Fascinating Biblical Romance Of Esther
Seize Your Opportunity ResoluteIy.

subject "A SLyi rue Opportunity" He
chose as his text Esther iv: il: "Who
knoweth whethe; thou art come to the
kingdom for such a time as this?" Mr..
Woefkin said:
The history of Esther is fascinating
panorama is Il graphic il.Ja ration OF the
providence OF God. 1t traces the transi-
ton from ooscarity to prominence; from
weakness to power. The scene opens
showing Esther an orphan girl belonging
to captive and despised race. Naturally,
every door OF influence would be closed to
her. Acne in the world. dependen: upon
was limited. Her chief endowment was
beauty, and that, as the world goes, is
more likely to become L snare OF evil than
IA belediction Oh good. Yet, behind this
humble, modest lire there is working the
might, wisdom ard love OF God. The
Queens throne is empty. The royal crown
is waiting some one Who may please tine
mood of the King. Thousands Of gentle
blood dream OF the Queens pace as the
acme OF al ambition. But the providence
OF Jehovah has reserved the place for
Esther, the orpnaaed Jewish girl.
This same divine power seeks 20 mold
every life. The circumstances and condi-
tions that environ us may not seem prom
Using. But what are these with God! His
vast majority OF men and women who have
made the mods of history We're those
whom Gods providence brought from OBJ
security aud .ow v conditions. Your way is
no. hid from tine Almighty. There is a
pace held vacant for Your filing. That
place is rs hono.-od and digni.ied as eny
royal throne, because it is divine.y APP
seem 10 be contingencies. accidents, for:
tui.ous chances, and through the moods of
other persons. But If there be the spirit
OF faith TO trlst Him, diligence to discover
His viii and readiness to obey, He will
bring us to the place and position most
suited for or eternal profit and glory. No
one else may step into our place, unit. we,
forfeited the privilege OF its occupancy.
Every life has IL. own unique endow-
ment. Success or future depends ulon the
manner i'll which we hold these posses
sions. II we ho.d them se.ishiy to profit
ourselves withal. they turn into corrup-
ton. But if they be held in trust as sa-
cred stewardship, used for the furtherance
of His pdrposcs and the bringing OF His
kingdom, they viii turn out eternal treas
ures. Oar temptation i: to discredit our
possessions and opportunities. But We MAY
not despise the day of small things.
Esther had Only personal beauty to com-
mend her at first. This is not a gift de-
SplSSu u. CGtSIl III Els dtISH'IbC W rum d
soul; then why should it be iiseredited as
a power for good: The lad had only five
loaves aid two fishes. but, consecrated to
His service. they fed the NUT itude and
more. It all turns upon whether we are
using our endowments in the interest of
self and by the energy OF self. or whether
we are living and working il cooperation
life will vary. God does not duplicate
and make all lives to conform to like pat
tern. There was a 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 honoIs and entnlu-
ments of royalty. Banquets are he'd in her
honor and retinue OF servants minister
to her continually. Can she support the
dignity thus thrust upon her? Will adu-
lation, fattery 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
she hears the iamenta.;on OF her kindred
people. Mordecai. her cousin, is in sack
cloth and mourning and would not be
comforted. All the captives are waiting
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.
Ii 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 overshadows her even there.
No circumstance or condition can shut it
out. The court of Persia permitted TO one
wearing sack cloth, that symbol of sorrow
0YrH
cincts., They would not be disturbed by
painful reminders Of lifc's SORROWS. But
even the royal purple can neither ignore
nor escape them. The tragedies of life are
not shut on. by hiding and ignoring them.
We can build no barrier that will prevent
their invasion.
,c The Red Redeemsr Of the world did not ig::
from human woe. but through suffering
became Saviour, forgiving sin. bringing
glory out of the crucih'e Of suffering and
planting the light of hope amid the
shadows Of death. If Esther seeks to save
her life alone she will lose it. But if in
seeking to save Others she lose it. she shall
save 1t. We cannot in time of epidemic
fulness will prove fatal.
- There came moment of despair to
Esther. What can she do more than 9th
ers. She had not besn Gated into the
Kings presence for a Whole month And
to venture unhid6sn might mean death.
She had her limitations. Even her position
eees fell short. It is always so. A grave
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
fbn
not fail nor be discouraged tin He hath set
Judgment in the earth. All that lie re-
Qulres is an instrument that vii! not ha,ls
at the cost, and He brings sneedy relief.
Let us fling the sacrifice of life into the
situation. and nothing shall be impossible
t., us. 1t is this desire to keep our skins
whole. and to conserve our personal ease
Paul was an optimist. because he threw
hi: life, into the crisis. Comfort ease,
Quiet. pleasure, were not aimed at by him,
therefore he could confidently write 81 am
pressed on every side vet not straitened:
perp.exed. yet not unto despair; pursued.
yet y not fo y smitten down. yet not
night. self-sacrifice the dawn.
Then followed Esther's heroic resolve.
A crisis always develops the character. In
moment she read the meaning of her
providential experiences. She saw some
things OF Gods plan in her life. Why had
she been exalted from the low,y position
of an orphan to the regal dignity of a
qMeen? Why had she been preferred above
al others for this great place? The mean
ing begins to crystalize. God foresaw this
crisis, anticipated the need, and for such i.
time as this was Esther come to the king
dom. In. the very keart of that gravest
difficulty lay her supreme opportunity Our
greatest moments are often set in darkest
circumstances. The providences of God