Pastor’s Column 2/12/2023

PASTOR’S COLUMN

“For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance 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 4:14 NIV

“Continuing In The Flow of History!”

Each generation must become acutely aware of its moment to rise up and meet the challenge before them. Voltaire said, “Present opportunities are not to be neglected, they rarely visit us twice.”Martin Luther King, Jr. said his foray into the fight for human rights, came as a result of being invited to attend a meeting of a local organization in Montgomery; where he was a young, newly-minted pastor of a prominent Baptist congregation. King said of the role he did not intend to assume, “I was thrust into leadership.”King answered the call of his elders, whose wisdom led them to a new prophetic voice for the times. In every era, there is a call for new voices to step into the challenging path of leadership. This we can call “continuity of purpose.” The problems every generation faces, owe their origin to a past that haunt and harasses us in the present; and threatens our future. The public affirmation of Black History, which has been heralded for 100 years now, has been called obsolete by some. However, every tribe on earth owes its existence and future to its knowledge of the past and present. Any people who forget its past; and ignores the injustices of the present, will never escape them. Multi-generations must work together, to fulfill its destiny of full justice and liberation. In ancient times when the Jewish people were subjects under Persian occupation, Mordechai, the elder relative of a young woman. Esther, learned of a plot to destroy their people. Esther emerged from a beauty contest as a trophy queen of the King of Persia in the capital city of Susa. Mordechai told Esther she should position herself before the King to inform him of the genocidal plot against her people.  Risking her own life, Esther rose up and entered the throne room. She told the King of the plot.  Esther’s great courage saved her people!