Lenten Journey: From Death to Life
“…for dust you are, and to dust you shall return.” Genesis 3:19
I keep hearing people around church being shocked that it is almost time for Lent. “Isn’t it very early?” “The year just started!” “Isn’t it supposed to be later?”
Well, as you know Easter this year is March 31st. That’s not the earliest that it can be, but it certainly is early compared to the years where it falls in the April 15-20 range. And the earlier the Easter, the earlier our Lenten journey begins. (Side note: Easter is always the 1st Sunday after the 1st full moon after the Spring equinox. If you don’t know, now you know!)
Speaking of journeys, I’ll admit that Lent seems to have arrived very fast for me as well. We just finished Christmas! But time marches on, and our journey continues in the rhythms and patterns of our lives. As they say when people complain about time flying or about traversing the rough terrain on the journey of life, “it’s better than the alternative!”
That’s certainly debatable (because…Jesus), but one thing that is undeniable is that we are on a journey. As our Lenten journey begins for 2024, our journey in this life continues with its own disciplines, its own peaks and valleys, joys and struggles, and our continual call to keep our eyes on the prize (or in other words, fix your eyes on Jesus).
I think we often think about life as a journey from life to death. We use phrases like “cradle to grave” or “womb to tomb”. And this is the natural course of things. After all, we heard in Genesis about Adam being formed from the dust of the ground, and after the fall of man God says, “for dust you are, and to dust you shall return.”
That’s how we begin our Lenten journey as well. Ash Wednesday reminds us of our mortality, and that because of the sinfulness of man we are on a journey toward returning to dust. “The first man was from the earth, a man of dust…As was the man of dust, so also are those who are of the dust…” (1 Cor. 15:47-48)
We recognize this mortality as humans. We know that our time in this life is short. If this was simply a journey from life to death, it would be pretty easy to be fatalistic. It would be pretty easy to lose hope.
But of course Lent reminds us that this is not simply a journey from life to death. Those ashes that are placed on our forehead reminding us of our sinfulness and mortality are not the final word. In fact, they aren’t just ashes. They are ashes made in the sign of the cross.
The truth is I only gave you part of those two verses from 1 Corinthians 15 before. Hear the rest of the verse: “The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven. As was the man of dust, so also are those who are of the dust, and as is the man of heaven, so also are those who are of heaven.” And then verse 49 says, “Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven.”
Our Lenten journey reminds us that there has been a great reversal. The pattern of our fallen flesh has had the script flipped on it. While we were once of the earth and of the man of dust (Adam…or the first Adam), we are now of the man of heaven, reborn in the image of the Second Adam, that is Christ. And while Adam heard “from dust you are and to dust you shall return,” Christ says, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die” (John 11:25-26). Ephesians 2 reminds us that we “were dead in the trespasses and sins in which (we) once walked…But God…made us alive together with Christ-by grace you have been saved-and raised us up with him…”
For those in Christ our journey is not a hopeless one from life to death. The script has been flipped. Christ has taken our death and given us His life. Our journey has become one from death to life-true life, eternal life.
Knowing what awaits us on this journey helps us navigate the terrain and endure through the darkness. As the saying goes, “It’s Friday, but Sunday is coming!” Death gives way to life! Resurrection is our promise. The trials of this world are not the final outcome.
I don’t say any of that to suggest this life doesn’t matter, but rather that we live a more full life today journeying in hope, walking in light, and knowing what lies ahead. The darkness of Lent gives ways to the magnificent light of Easter, not just for a season in the Church Year but for all eternity for you and me. It’s a journey worth traveling, even through difficulties, because it ends in resurrection and life!
In Christ, Pastor Joe Dapelo