|
"The path to the buffet table
and the path to sanctification lie in opposite
directions."
Lent
2007
Yesterday, millions of
Christians around the world observed Ash
Wednesday. It marks the start of Lent -- the six
weeks leading up to Easter.
Lent (literally,
"Spring") dates back perhaps as far as 325 AD. It
re-enacts the 40 days of fasting that Christ
endured before His ministry, and it gives us an
annual reminder of the excesses in our own lives
that may hinder us from a deeper walk with
God.
Sundays throughout Lent
are always "resurrection days" and exempt from the
fast, which is why the period actually extends 46
days (until Easter Sunday, April 8).
For nearly 1700 years,
believers have observed this fasting period.
Why?
Perhaps for some it is
simply tradition. They grew up keeping Lent, and
still do. Others perhaps feel pressure to conform.
Everyone around them participates in Lent, so they
should too.
But little is gained by
rote observances. The Lord once said of Israel:
"This people draw near with their words and honor
Me with their lip service, but they remove their
hearts far from Me, and their reverence for Me
consists of tradition learned by rote...." (Isaiah
29.13).
Lent ought not be a
"tradition learned by rote," though it can easily
slip into that rut. Instead, it gives us a fresh
opportunity for Spring-cleaning of the
soul.
Sin blocks our
spiritual arteries. Comfort and materialism blind
our spiritual senses. The habit of
instant-gratification dulls our spiritual
sensitivity. Lent provides a tonic for each
affliction.
We resolve not simply
to abstain from something (chocolate, sweets,
meat, fish, dairy, eggs, television, whatever) but
to use this fast as a trigger to deal with deeper
issues. Just when we think that we'll die if we
can't get that soft-drink into us, we realize that
we are spiritually dying because we haven't worked
to get other things out of us.
We don't fast to
impress God; we fast to confront our corruption
and discover Him in deeper ways.
There's nothing magical
about 40 days. Biblically, the number represents a
season of testing, but the Lord doesn't dock
points for late-starters or
non-finishers.
Perhaps something will resonate within
you today to join with literally millions of
other Christ-followers in this season of spiritual
focus and renewal. After the excesses
of Christmas and New Year, Lent offers
valuable purging and transforming
possibilities.
In HOPE -
David | 
