Ashes Represent Repentance
On Wednesday, Lent begins - a 40-day season that many Christians use to draw nearer to God as Easter approaches. Those of you who observe this season will start it with an Ash Wednesday service, in which you will receive the sign of the cross in ash on your head. Many people ask me - what's with the ashes? Well, it has a few different connotations. Firstly, the ashes represent repentance.
The ministry of Jesus began with a call to repentance. "Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand" was His message as He began His ministry.
In Old Testament times, grief, humiliation, and repentance were expressed by placing ashes on the head or even sitting in ashes. It's common to see Old Testament characters do this, or for prophets to call the people to wear sackcloth and sit in ashes as a sign of their grief at their people's sin.
For us, Ash Wednesday is a moment of receiving ashes on our heads as a sign that we are indeed grieving our sins.
Confronting Our Sin Honestly
Are you truly sorry for your sins? Are you grief-stricken because of the sins you have committed? If not, perhaps this is a time for you to look seriously at the consequences of some of your thoughts and actions.
One of the great Lenten Psalms - known as a Psalm of Penitence - is Psalm 32. Listen to these words from David: "When I refused to confess my sin, my body wasted away, and I groaned all day long. Day and night Your hand of discipline was heavy on me. My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat. Interlude. Finally, I confessed all my sins to You and stopped trying to hide my guilt. I said to myself, 'I will confess my rebellion to the LORD.' And You forgave me! All my guilt is gone. Therefore, let all the godly pray to You while there is still time, that they may not drown in the floodwaters of judgement." (Psalm 32:3-6)
The Freedom Found in Repentance
Repentance is rarely preached these days, because telling people to admit their wrongdoings probably makes them uncomfortable. But this is between you and God.
The longer you hang onto those sins, the more miserable you get deep down inside. God is saying "come to Me, come and let Me wash you". He is not asking for repentance so that you can be punished, but so that you might find forgiveness and grace.
So, when you receive that ash on Wednesday, let it begin a season of intense repentance. Spend these 40 days in repentance daily. Repent of sins known and unknown.
Come just as you are - don't try to fool God. He sees you just as you are, and He longs for your repentance, that He might shower His love on you, and forgive you, through the blood of His Son Jesus.
Lent begins with Ash Wednesday! Let me remind you what the ashes you will receive mean. First, they represent repentance.