Loyalty to the King of Kings
By K. C. RUSSELL
GREAT and decisive questions sometimes hinge upon seemingly the most ordinary and common circumstances in life. This is illustrated in the experience of Mordecai when he was delivered from an ignominious death on the gallows, which had been plotted by wicked Haman. It will be remembered that in the book of Esther it is recorded that upon a certain night Ahasuerus the king could not sleep, and hence ordered his private secretary to read from the book of the chronicles. It so happened that the act of loyalty by Mordecai toward the king was read. It was the instance where two assassins had planned to take the king’s life; and the thing becoming known to Mordecai, he made it known, and they were hanged. It will be well to note in this connection that the king’s inability to sleep upon that memorable night, and the selection of that particular instance from the records of the book of chronicles, were not by mere chance, but were unmistakably the direct working of the Spirit of God in bringing about the deliverance of Mordecai and his people. The feature of chief importance in this thrilling experience, and also the pivotal point upon which the deliverance of Mordecai and his people turned, was because of this remarkable act of loyalty in behalf of the king which was found recorded in the book of the chronicles. If, on that eventful night, nothing had been found written in these records concerning Mordecai and his noble deed which resulted in saving the king’s life, it will be readily seen that his own life and the lives of his people might have been sacrificed. A practical lesson for God’s people can be drawn from this experience in the closing days of this work. Much of the experience of God’s faithful people recorded in the book of Esther is to meet a parallel in our time, and each soul should make sure that some acts of loyalty to the King of kings are being recorded in the book of chronicles (remembrance), so that when the time of deliverance comes, he may be among those of whom the prophet speaks in Dan. 12:1, “Thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.” Now is the time for us to hasten and have something recorded in the “book of chronicles,” for it will be too late should we delay until the day of final deliverance comes. There are many ways in which we can show to God our loyalty; among these might be mentioned the feeding of those who are suffering from temporal hunger and thirst, and also those who are in dire need of spiritual food. Through the spirit of prophecy the Lord has recently told us that “if the forces of the enemy gain the victory now, it will be because the churches have neglected their God-given work.” In the light of this instruction from heaven let no soul ask to be excused from being marshaled into line when orders are received from the “Captain of our salvation,” for the victory is as certain for us as it was for Mordecai and his people; for the spirit of prophecy says, “Now, as in the days of Mordecai, the Lord will vindicate his truth and his people.”