T
he past few weeks seem to have flown by! I was challenged to read Pilgrim’s Progress so I have been working my way through a modern version of the story. I highly recommend reading this book, if you have never read it or like me it has been a very long time.
It has been said by many that life is a journey, not a destination. As Christ-followers our destination is to be with our Messiah when He returns. But the journey to get there can be a road full of pot-holes, speed bumps, and side tracks. We may or may not observe the signs along the road. Scripture is our road map for our travels through this earthly life.
The life of a Christian (also the main character in Pilgrim’s Progress) travels through seasons. The seasons of the church year help us navigate on the road. Lent is a wonderful season of reflection. Reflective questions are ‘how am I doing?’ ‘What character traits do I need to work on?’ ‘Lord, what can I do to serve you better?’ Things of that nature.
Even though the calendar now says it is Spring, the weather certainly has not been acting like it is Spring! But my house needs a deep clean and so I press on to get it done. One of the preparations for Passover is removing all the Hametz from the house. Hametz is anything that has leaven in it. This year Passover begins on April 5 and continues until April 13. As part of my preparation, I will remove all bread, flour, and anything that has yeast in it. Hametz is the symbol for sin. Removing all the products that have leaven is a symbolic and significant way for me to think about removing sin from my life. The only way sin gets removed is through confession. “God, please show me the areas of my life where there is sin and remove it.”
"But if we own up to our sins, God shows that He is faithful and just by forgiving us of our sins and purifying us from the pollution of all the bad things we have done." (1 John 1:9)
This is an amazing promise! And so is this –” God takes all our crimes – our seemingly inexhaustible sins – and removes them. As far as east is from the west, he removes them from us” (Psalm 103:12).
So, as I take all the hametz out of my house I confess to God and thank him for his most gracious forgiveness. I look forward to the Seder meal when I will consume matzo and wine and remember how God saved his people from slavery and even more importantly how Christ saved the world from the slavery of sin.
In celebrating the Passover, we see through the symbols of food and the telling of the Exodus story how God planned all along for not only his chosen people but for the whole world to be saved and reconciled to him.
“For God expressed His love for the world in this way: he gave His only Son so that whoever believes in Him will not face everlasting destruction, but will have everlasting life” (John 3:16).
So as the season of Lent comes to a close and Holy Week begins with Palm/Passion Sunday let us take in the full meaning and significance of each day. Palm Sunday – a day for celebration but it ends with foreboding. Journey with Jesus as he led his disciples through their Passover meal (Maundy Thursday) and explained to them what the story really meant and how he was the fulfillment of the Exodus event. Then, as he went to the garden to pray (Good Friday), and the events that followed - his arrest, trial, and crucifixion – reflect on his passion and how that has impacted our lives.
Then the Day of Triumph (Resurrection Day)! Victory over the grave! Christ has WON! Incredible day of victory! Christ has done just what he said!
May these next few days be life-changing and impactful for each of us.
Pesach Sameach!
Shalom!
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