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Lent is the forty weekdays beginning with Ash Wednesday and ending at noon on the Saturday just before Resurrection Sonday. The Sondays from Ash Wednesday to Passion Sonday are not counted as a part of Lent.
The forty days of Lent symbolize: - the 40 days Moses was up on Mount Sinai receiving the Law; - the 40 years the Israelites wandered in the wilderness; - the 40 days Elijah fasted on the mountain of God; - the 40 days Jonah preached for revival in Nineveh; - the 40 days Jesus was tempted in the wilderness while He fasted; - the 40 hours of Christ's entombment after His crucifixion; and - the 40 days between Jesus' resurrection and His ascension into Heaven.
The number 40 is not magical, but does provide adequate time for spiritual reflection and examination in preparation to celebrate the resurrection of our Lord.
Lent is sort of a "tithe" of our time to God for spiritual revival - for it is little more than one tenth of the entire year.
Throughout Lent, we are to have a sober awareness of our sinful condition and need for salvation. We are to be conscious of our own mortality and impending death.
However, Lent is not a morbid time of sadness nor of overwhelming gloom. Always the focus is on God's act of mercy and grace in the sacrificial death of His Son for our sins and His triumph over death to provide for our eternal life.
So Lent is also a time of profound joy as we remember Christ's atonement for our salvation.
Lent is a good time to decide to relinquish something that will remind us of Christ's sacrifice for our sins.
Many people choose some sort of "fast" - from a certain food or drink, or from an activity, or from something else that is an important part of their lives.
The purpose is not so we can brag about or feel proud of what we have done. Rather the reason we decide to do without something is so we can be reminded daily of the price that was paid for our salvation.
Hopefully, engaging in some sort of physical denial will lead to spiritual repentance, redemption, restoration, and renewal.
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| LIFE IN PERSPECTIVE |
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Lent can be a reality check for us. We regularly need to be reminded that we are not just physical beings but created spiritually to have a relationship with God.
Consider what God spoke through Paul in his Letter to the Christians at Galatia: "Those who want to make a good impression outwardly are trying to compel you to be circumcised. The only reason they do this is to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ. Not even those who are circumcised obey the law, yet they want you to be circumcised that they may boast about your flesh. May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. Neither circumcision or uncircumcision means anything; what counts is a new creation." Galatians 6:12-15
It is not outward observations and practices that lead to inner spiritual renewal, but rather inner repentance.
Engaging in some wholesome self-denial during Lent, can help us refocus our lives on spiritual things and away from earthly things.
Lent can help us keep the purpose of our lives in proper perspective so that we live like children of God and not children of this world.
Lent can help us more fully experience the fullness of God's salvation and cleansing so we can be better fit for His service.
God's Holy Word says: "The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially clean unclean sanctify then so that they are outwardly clean. How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, Who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!" Hebrews 9:13-14
Life in proper perspective tells us that we are more than mere physical beings made from dust.
Life in proper perspective tells us we are created in the image of the LORD God Almighty.
Life in proper perspective tells us we have been re-created in the image of Jesus Christ.
Life in proper perspective tells us that we are children of God, cleansed for service to Him through the blood of Jesus Christ Who gave Himself up for us.
Life in proper perspective knows we shall die physically, but that we can live forever through Christ Jesus, Who died on the cross for us.
Let us take a new journey to the foot of the cross of Christ this Lenten season.
That is where real spiritual revival begins.
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| SONG OF DESIRE |
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Perhaps you will want to use this hymn as a theme throughout Lent to remind you of the real purpose of life.
1. Jesus, keep me near the cross - There a precious fountain, Free to all, a healing stream, Flows from Calvary’s mountain. In the cross, in the cross, Be my glory ever, Till my raptured soul shall find Rest, beyond the river.
2. Near the cross, a trembling soul, Love and mercy found me; There the Bright and Morning Star Sheds its beams around me. In the cross, in the cross Be my glory ever, Till my raptured soul shall find Rest, beyond the river.
3. Near the cross! O Lamb of God, Bring its scenes before me; Help my walk from day to day With its shadows o'er me. In the cross, in the cross, Be my glory ever, Till my raptured soul shall find Rest, beyond the river.
4. Near the cross I'll watch and wait, Hoping, trusting ever, Till I reach the golden strand Just beyond the river. In the cross, in the cross, Be my glory ever, Till my raptured soul shall find, Rest, beyond the river. Dan Eckart is the Pastor of Warren Park Wesleyan Church and lives in Indianapolis Indiana. |
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