Drive By Ash Wednesday Blessing
Be sure not to value symbolism over substance. Ashes on the forehead without repentance in the heart is just a dirty forehead. "I gave up chocolate for Lent." What, exactly, does that get you? I see much popular sentiment as an extension of New Year's Resolutions: often a nice idea, with somewhat less nice follow up or commitment.
Repentance is a turning away from sin, disobedience, or rebellion and a turning back to God. It is an act of turning around and going in the opposite direction. In Luke 5:32 Jesus says, "I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." What does He mean here? Who are the righteous? Why can't they repent?
The righteous in this context are those who choose symbolism over substance. They prefer to look righteous on the outside. They have the Law without the Spirit.
The basic fact about people is that we are sinners!
Repentance is a "godly sorrow" for sin, specifically and generally, and personally. This leads to a profound "substantive" reality. This leads to a fundamental change in a person's relationship to God.
In the preaching of the New Testament Gospel, we hear John the Baptist say in Matthew 3:2, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." But in v.8 he also says, "Bring forth fruits worthy of repentance." Don't imagine that there is some other way to become righteous in God's sight, John says, by ethnicity or by culture. Rather, one has to repent and then prove it.
You see, the good news of salvation and repentance are inextricably linked. Jesus preached the same way as John, as in Matthew 4:17 he says, "Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand." In Jesus' message we realize that repentance and faith are "two sides of the same coin." Repentance is turning away from sin, faith is turning towards God.
So this is it: repentance + faith = conversion = salvation.
If you go to receive the ashes tomorrow (drive-by or otherwise!), be sure to carry the desire for true repentance with you. That way you can have both the substance and the symbolism, and you'll end up with more than just a dirty forehead!
