The Ancient Persian Postal System Carried a Deadly Message
Picture this: You're living in ancient Persia, and a messenger on horseback arrives at your door with an official decree from King Ahasuerus himself. The message is chilling – all Jews are to be destroyed, killed, and caused to perish in a single day. The entire city of Shushan was "perplexed" by this horrific announcement.
But here's what might surprise you: this ancient story from Esther chapter 3 carries a message that applies directly to your life today.
A Universal Decree Has Been Issued
Just as Haman's deadly decree went out to every province in the Persian Empire, there's a universal decree that applies to every person who has ever lived. The Bible declares in Ecclesiastes: "For it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment."
In Esther 3:12-15, we read about the king's scribes writing letters "to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish all Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day." The decree commanded that everyone "should be ready against that day."
The phrase "ready against that day" should grab our attention because while we don't have a physical decree coming in our mail, we all face an appointment with death.
What Does "Ready Against That Day" Really Mean?
When the Persian postal system (using fresh horses at each "post" or station) carried Haman's deadly message throughout the empire, it forced every recipient to confront a terrifying reality. Some were afraid, some agreed with the decree, and others – like Corrie ten Boom and Oskar Schindler in more recent history – chose to take action to protect the innocent.
But here's the sobering truth: Job 30:23 says, "For I know that thou wilt bring me to death, and to the house appointed for all living."
There's a "house appointed" for every living person. The question isn't whether you'll die – it's whether you're ready for what comes after.
Consider these biblical truths:
Ecclesiastes 8:8: "There is no man that hath power over the spirit to retain the spirit; neither hath he power in the day of death"
Ecclesiastes 2:16: "How dieth the wise man? as the fool"
Psalms 49:10: "For he seeth that wise men die, likewise the fool and the brutish person perish, and leave their wealth to others"
Two Types of "Blotting" Await Every Soul
Here's where the gospel becomes beautifully clear: There will be a "blotting" in your life. You see, God doesn't desire anyone to perish, which is why He made a way for your sins to be blotted out.
You have two choices:
Have your sins blotted out through faith in Jesus Christ and be ready against that day
Remain unprepared, and have your name blotted out of the book of life
The rich man in Luke 12:16-20 thought he had "much goods laid up for many years," planning to "eat, drink, and be merry." But God said to him: "Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?"
Like the king in our opening story who lived as though he would never die, many people accumulate wealth, wisdom, and worldly success while making no preparations for eternity.
Don't Be the Greatest Fool in the Kingdom
The parable of the foolish king and his jester reveals a profound truth: the greatest fool is not someone who lacks intelligence or wealth – it's someone who lives as though they will never die and must die knowing they've never truly lived.
Romans 5:12 reminds us: "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned."
Death is the child of sin, but Jesus Christ conquered both sin and death. The question that should grip your heart is the same one posed to the Jews in ancient Persia: Are you ready against that day?
Don't wait until it's too late. Make your preparations now:
Acknowledge that you're a sinner in need of salvation
Believe that Jesus Christ died for your sins and rose again
Call upon the name of the Lord to be saved
Job 30:23 declares there's "a house appointed for all living." Where will you spend eternity?
🎧✨ Want to hear this powerful message in its entirety? This blog post only scratches the surface of this incredible expository preaching session. Listen to the complete verse-by-verse Bible teaching sermon to discover even more insights about preparing for eternity and understanding God's providence in the book of Esther. [Listen to the full sermon here] – you won't want to miss this life-changing message!