October in Blue

So Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal apparel of blue and white, with a great crown of gold and a garment of fine linen and purple; and the city of Shushan rejoiced and was glad. Esther 8:15

Blue was not at one time a color of depression but of joy and gladness. The Jews of Shushan did not feel blue when Mordecai accepted the reward of the king and stepped out in fine clothing with a new chapeau. No, the next two verses speak of joy and celebration until we get to many of the natives becoming Jewish for fear of the Jews. Wait, they became Jews? Don't you have to be born into that nation? Nope, we know from the scriptures that the Law always had provision for foreigners to join up, so to speak. The Law has many verses telling the people to treat foreigners living among them as native-born. To love them as themselves (That bit sounds familiar!) and to not despise them. Somehow this got lost entirely by our Lord's time. However, verse 17 has an interesting reason for conversion to Judaism - they were scared. 

We of course are familiar with this reason, for many of us heard the old fire n' brimstone sermons in ancient times and knew firsthand the fear of hellfire and eternal darkness. These sorts of sermons should be brought back, as many of us first came to seek the Shepherd with our woolly coats singed by the flames pouring forth from the pulpit. Yes, the love of the Lord Jesus is a far better reason to believe, but if they won't believe in Him at all perhaps a brimstone warning will put the fear of God in 'em. It certainly worked in our case. By way of example we need only look to the Tribulation to come where the fear of God saves a number too great to count. 

It sounds hard, perhaps even a little mean, but if I were sliding down the chute that led to the fiery flames of hell, I would appreciate the words of life that told me of One who could save me.

Bucky