Faithful on Fridays Blog

True Meaning of Lent

Lent, a church holiday, begins on Ash Wednesday and marks the forty days before Easter. Funny how Protestants (non-Catholics) are slowly re-learning the value of this season that’s been neglected for so long. Irenaus, a first century Church Father, wrote of a time designated for self-examination, repentance, and reflection on the inner man: we call this designated time: Lent. I, personally, need this season because I want to remember who I was without Christ but also, who I am with Him.

There are ashes applied to the forehead as a reminder of God’s words to Adam, hence the name Ash Wednesday. 

By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return. Genesis 3:19

All through the Bible people mourned over their sin or the sin of their people in sackcloth (rough material) and ashes yet this type of repentance is sadly missing from today’s Christianity. I believe God is reviving His Church with this truth as a springboard into a fresh relationship with Him but it begins with recognizing that He’s the supreme authority over all creation: heaven, earth, and the underworld.

When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers— the moon and the stars you set in place— what are mere mortals that you should think about them, human beings that you should care for them? Psalms 8:3-4

This passage causes me to reflect on His greatness and my smallness and reminds me that life is all about Him: His love, His mercy, His grace. Lent gives me an opportunity to remember that I’m a sinner in need of a Savior. I was destined for hell but He chose to rescue me, I wasn’t able pay the price for my sin nature but He was: He, alone, is able.

Each year as I reflect on the meaning of Lent I enter into a season of humility, yes, but also a time of anticipation that one day He’ll appear a second time and I’l experience the second part of that Psalm.

Yet You made them only a little lower than God and crowned them with glory and honor. You gave them charge of everything You made, putting all things under their authority— Psalms 8:5, 6 

For the next few weeks we’ll delve a little deeper into the purpose of Christ on this earth but also under the earth. Let’s never forget, especially during Lent, that Jesus spent three days and three nights in the heart of the earth (Matt. 12:40) fulfilling His assignment and proving His authority. Let’s learn more about those three days because the pinnacle day of Christianity, Resurrection Sunday, comes around like clockwork every year. May this year’s celebration be one of revelation and thanksgiving as we remember all that He accomplished on our behalf and for our benefit.