I write this looking outside my window onto a back yard with a lot of snow. It is the end of February and this the first substantial snow fall of our winter. After having only two weeks of extreme cold, one in November and one in January, it is strange to finally have a typical Edmonton Winter arrive so late. That said, better now than May long weekend!
Spiritually speaking, there is occasion where some experience a late winter. Many seem to go through life all easy-like. No tragedy, nor sickness, nor financial stress. Their kids all seem to turn out wonderful, have good careers, go to church and married fine people.
Really, these people can be a little annoying. Oh not them personally, just their situation. Why should some people, seemingly, go through life with such apparent ease?
We sing a song at Next that goes ‘when all hope is lost, I’ll still call you Savior.’ Last year, we had someone leave the church, in part, because of songs like this. He couldn’t stand ‘the self-loathing’. He hadn’t a winter in his life, so he didn’t seem to understand the need for some to cry out to God in despair.
Some of these people will one day get a last blast of winter. They’ll think that spring is around the corner, that they avoided all sorts of trouble, and it’ll all be good. They may even be right.
They also may not be right. You never know when a snowstorm is going to hit. Which is why I believe Lent is so important. It helps us focus on Jesus, rely more on Him, get a firmer foundation in our spiritual life. Lenten offers the opportunity, if taken seriously, to once a year grow a few inches deeper and few feet wider in our spiritual life.
I am not sure if an unexpected blast of winter will happen in your life or mine, but if it does, I hope that we will be spiritually ready. Lent can help you be ready. For Jesus, his ‘Lenten’ experience helped prepare him for ministry, and ultimately, his death (ugly winter!) and resurrection. Luke 4 records Jesus’ temptation.
“Now Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wild. 2For forty wilderness days and nights he was tested by the Devil. He ate nothing during those days, and when the time was up he was hungry.
3The Devil, playing on his hunger, gave the first test: “Since you’re God’s Son, command this stone to turn into a loaf of bread.”
4Jesus answered by quoting Deuteronomy: “It takes more than bread to really live.”
5For the second test he led him up and spread out all the kingdoms of the earth on display at once. 6Then the Devil said, “They’re yours in all their splendor to serve your pleasure. I’m in charge of them all and can turn them over to whomever I wish. 7Worship me and they’re yours, the whole works.”
8Jesus refused, again backing his refusal with Deuteronomy: “Worship the Lord your God and only the Lord your God. Serve him with absolute single-heartedness.”
9For the third test the Devil took him to Jerusalem and put him on top of the Temple. He said, “If you are God’s Son, jump. 10It’s written, isn’t it, that ‘he has placed you in the care of angels to protect you; 11they will catch you; you won’t so much as stub your toe on a stone’?”
12“Yes,” said Jesus, “and it’s also written, ‘Don’t you dare tempt the Lord your God.’”
13That completed the testing. The Devil retreated temporarily, lying in wait for another opportunity.”
As you enter into this Lenten time, be mindful to take this seriously, in case a winter might come your way.
