Thoughts on a Beautiful Pre-Spring day – Also the Advent of Lent

I’ve observed many friends over the years, mostly from denominational churches, who have participated in some of the rituals, events, and activities of Lent. I have observed, but have not participated, in part because over time I’ve seen that for many, it’s not much more than an excuse for pre-Lent excesses, or to ‘fit in” with others and give up something for 40 days. Over the past few years, in my hunger to know Jesus and the Father better, I’ve come to an understanding that in any season an impoverished attitude on my condition (for impoverished IS what we are), and perhaps more meaningfully during Lent, can in God’s hand and timing make amazing transformation to our very being – our character.

In my first book, I challenged readers to not accept what I was writing — for I could be wrong if I was speaking personally and not with Scriptures to support it.  Even with the Scriptures, I could be wrong if I, taking what the Bible said out of context, or twisting it to “fit what I believe” (that may well have been learned) – in error.  Many, for example, have, while following what the revisionists have been teaching, “that sex outside of marriage is perfectly okay and normal” found a passage or two they can reengineer to fit societies’ new norm. The same with abortion, etc..  I told readers to examine what I had written, explore it in-light-of the Bible and then for them to know not just what they believe, but why.

This morning I ordered something from Amazon and it was delivered less than four hours later. Have we truly become a society that must have immediate fulfillment of our wants and subverted what is right and good for what we think we need?  Instant gratification began in the Garden of Eden when the serpent deceived and tempted Eve to defy God and eat what they had been told was forbidden.

Or, perhaps even earlier, it was in heaven when Satan decided he wanted the glory that belonged to God alone (and still does) – and wanted it enough to oppose God. The consequences of that will echo until Eternity, but the end is sure, spelled out in the book of Revelation. Sadly, man continues to walk that dangerous fatal path.

For each generation since has tried to gain instant satisfaction for their desires, and each generation has painfully discovered in the end that it’s futile.

As we consider our own situation today, I’m sure that there are many situations in my life and most likely in yours, that we’ve mandated our way to garner what we wanted immediately. For example, crying for a cookie before dinner when a toddler, throwing a mild tantrum (maybe yours – but mine were classic) when thwarted in our desire, lobbying for a car, or later curfews. Rejecting all we knew about values so we could taste the dark side of alcohol, drugs, sex, the rush of speed – and sadly for some mixing those all together as an even greater disaster recipe.

If you are reading this, there is a good chance that you have or are considering the fallen nature in yourself, and that still small voice of God is or has stirred the deeper, hopefully unselfish, desire to live life above the crowd and norm and know God’s ways. If we were a coloring-book and God the colorist, He continually colors outside the lines, to get our attention to the Kingdom work, His work, around us and in us – just look at the diversity He gave us in nature.

Our fallen nature resists not only the 10 Commandments but much of what Jesus modeled and taught us to do. They are not things that we are to simply “obey” (we cannot do that in our own flesh and strength). They are expressions of our life in Christ-changed-character that pour out of us with His light, and in time with no lingering desire for the dark side of thought or behavior. True apprenticeship, true discipleship defines the individual who is walking with Jesus and learning how to lead their life as He did and would if He were in their shoes. Instead, He has chosen to take up residence in our heart to do that transforming work if we are willing and choose that path.

Our Father’s desire is for us to be conformed to our given image – the image of God, with His character and actions so wonderfully displayed in Jesus and His saints in the New Testament. In short, God’s plan and righteous desire is for us, each one of us, to be transformed into the Character of Christ.  Philippians 1:6 tells us we can be confident that He will complete that work in us if we intentionally persist in a growing walk with Him.  The understanding of this transformation has been mostly lost over the last millennium but was powerfully active in the First Century church. 

The 40 days leading up to Easter, known as Lent, are still a phenomenal time to take daily account of our heart and reflect on where we are in our journey to the kind of holiness that Jesus said was ours if we hunger for it and for the Spirit of God to bring that character transformation as we more than just mosey on in life. The intentional follower of Jesus that vulnerably examines himself/herself will come naturally to a posture of repentance, any time and during Lent, it can be transforming for us.

May we use this season to His glory and honor.