From the East Regional Pastor: A look in the Lenten mirror

By: Marvin Bublitz

As I write this, we are in the midst of another Lenten season. Growing up, Lent was always my favourite time of the Church Year. I found it to be the most genuine and spiritual. Mid-week services in Lent did not suffer from the same distractions as did Advent.

Lent is a time to be brutally honest about ourselves. Lent can be like that first look in the mirror in the morning. We see ourselves for what we really are, not what we might pretend to be. And no amount of time spent to pretty ourselves up can change it. When we see ourselves before the holy and almighty Lord and compare what He demands with what we deliver it can be a frightening sight. And we are helpless to do anything about it.

Lent reminds us of that fact. But it also reminds us of the One Who was able and did do something about our sinful condition. And so God invites us through His prophet Joel (2:13) to “Return to the Lord, your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love;”

So we poor miserable sinners and wandering sheep are brought back by the grace of God to His fold. He turns us around to head back to Him. It is Christ alone Who can change the face in the mirror—change us from a lost sinner to a forgiven child of God—change us from one condemned to eternity in hell for our sin to one redeemed to life eternal in heaven.

That is His promise to all and His gift for all who believe in Him. And so He has given us His blessing of forgiveness for the repentant. He has washed us to drown the Old Adam that the new man in Christ might arise. He puts His Holy Word into our ears to strengthen us in faith. He puts His very Body and Blood, crucified and risen for us and our salvation, into our body.

And in all this, He works a change. God no longer sees us as a poor miserable, condemned sinner. Rather, He sees and embraces us as a lost son who is back home. He sees us through the cross of Christ and His Son. He sees us through Christ and declares that we are His holy children, welcomed into His eternal Kingdom. And so we eagerly long for the joys of Easter and the resurrection.

And we pray: Just as I am, without one plea But that Thy blood was shed for me And that Thou bidd’st me come to Thee, O Lamb of God, I come, I come. Just as I am, Thou wilt receive, Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve; Because Thy promise I believe, O Lamb of God, I come, I come. Just as I am; Thy love unknown Has broken ev’ry barrier down; Now to be Thine, yea, Thine alone, O Lamb of God, I come, I come. Amen