Esther 4:14 “For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father’s house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”
This past Friday I walked out of the Pentagon to end my assignment there. Every day for the last two years I walked through the Marine Corps corridor on my way into work. Along this corridor, there are murals of prominent Marine engagements (my favorite was that of America’s first post-Revolutionary engagement – the Barbary Wars) and displays of famous quotes (my favorite was from an Army General: “The safest place in Korea was right behind a platoon of Marines.”). Along this corridor are also displayed portraits of each Marine commandant. One portrait particularly interested me; the one of the 4th Commandant Anthony Gale (see the next post to see the portrait).
Gale had come to office under scrutiny because of suspect business dealings, concern about his character, and questions about his fitness for duty. Nevertheless, he was appointed Commandant. Gale’s challenge was to define the role of the fledgling Commandant’s position, and he was unsatisfied with the guidance he received from the Secretary of the Navy. Instead of rising to the challenge of the office to which he had been appointed, Gale “neglected his duties.” This shortcoming caused President Monroe to ultimately replace Gale whose successor rose to the challenge. The Marine Corps successfully moved on, and Gale left in disgrace.
Like Esther and Gale, American Christians face a substantial challenge for which we have been specifically called to this place at this time. Like Esther, we could rise to the challenge in faithfulness to our calling, or like Gale, we could neglect our duties in faithlessness and folly. God’s plan will successfully move on, with or without us.
PLEASE PRAY THAT AMERICAN CHRISTIANS WOULD NEVER NEGLECT OUR CALLING TO THIS PLACE AT THIS TIME. We must never neglect our duties or we will leave in disgrace.
SET YOUR ALARM: If you’re alarmed (that our lack of safety actually stems from our degraded spiritual condition), set your alarm (to pray for our nation)!
