Preparation For Lent - 2

On this day, the eve of Ash Wednesday, we continue with even more ardent and sincere heart and mind, to see and know what needs to be speedily, hastily and urgently addressed, regarding our spiritual wheels. We have likened this to a motor vehicle which has four wheels. We have taken four wheels to ourselves, as God’s spiritual vehicles. We have also been humbled, as we have been made by our Lord, through His Divine, Present, Holy Spirit, to see stinging, but wholesome and thankful truth. For many of us Christians and longstanding ones too, it stings hard, but true, to be shown the real state of our faith in God. But this truth is absolutely needed so that we are not left behind on this Lenten travel with our Lord, on His forty days and forty nights walk to the Cross. We really do not want to be left behind because of rotten tyres, nor do we want to be the cause of anyone not being included, who is travelling with us.

Having seen to two tyres being fitted with unassisted belief and unpretentious trust, we are ready to be stripped and receive the other two changes.  

Unsolicited Hope

If your faith does not provide you with comfort, peace and undeniable assurance, as a shelter gives refuge from the vicious enemy, or a holding anchor gives stay, to a ship in a storm, then your hope is all vain.  Hope in God is always without soliciting. This is crucial, for hope is given by God and offered by God. He Himself is our Hope. When we were yet in sin, and without hope, did He not come in carnal, mortal flesh, and give Himself a ransom, ensuring us sinners, hope of everlasting life? Not one single human being had to solicit our Lord’s hope. Listen to how Paul brings us back to reality about ourselves and our hope in God. Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh – who are called Uncircumcision by what is called Circumcision made in the flesh by hands – that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants, of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. Ephesians 2: 11 – 13. 

So what’s God saying about your faith covering, which is your hope in Him? Does your hope need removing from solicited hope, to unsolicited hope? Faith works only with authentic, pure hope. Without such hope, it is futile to even try to begin this Lenten travel, as it guarantees all kinds of pathways, known and very unknown to you. Without the hope that is offered by God and not your own worldly, self-preserving hope, you are thrown, even before you begin and this will be a pathetic disaster. Without good, unsolicited hope, how will you be able to know victory in every path that you must tread?

Unproductive Works 

If your faith does not produce works in keeping with what is of Jesus, then everything done, big or small will be utterly rejected by our Lord. Once, when disciples and followers of Jesus had been doing some mightily stunning work for Him, and thought that they were being most productive, Jesus totally cancelled them all. Here are some most unwanted words, terrifying words and utterly chilling words, which Jesus does not hesitate to spew out of His mouth. He states clearly and categorically that those who will enter the Kingdom of heaven are those who do the will of His Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name? And then I will declare to them, I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness! Matthew 7: 22 - 23. Doesn’t this leave you totally surrendered? Are these not unproductive good works, because those who are doing these great works are not living and doing as God wills?

When Paul prays for the Church at Colossae, he prays, that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. Colossians 1: 10 

So what’s God saying about your faith covering, which are your works in Him? Do your works need changing from unproductive works to productive works? Faith works only with complete obedience to God’s will. Without such obedience and submission to the will of God, there is no way that you will follow Jesus on this Lenten walk, which leads into some tough and very scary places. Without pleasing, productive works, how will you be able to listen and follow in joyful obedience?

Just as my friend’s vehicle was fitted with new tyres, so too your wheels of faith can be fitted with the new.  God the Holy Spirit is waiting on you, as He has all brand new tyres of Unassisted Belief, Unpretentious Trust, Unsolicited Hope and Unproductive Works, waiting for you. May your faith believe and receive it all.

Pray, submit, surrender and rise in thanksgiving to make the first steps with Jesus, on this walk of forty days and forty nights.