Sitting in Ashes?

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Yesterday we talked about Lent.  As promised, I'm continuing today on the message of Jonah and responding to a prophetic word.

I've looked around.  I've checked.  I'm not seeing a lot of prophets in my neighborhood giving me a message from God.  That's probably good.  

Prophets of old were not very well liked because they told people that what they were doing was wrong and that they needed to change.  Think of them more like that, than someone looking into a crystal ball to tell the future.  The future, they would say, isn't looking good for you if you don't change your ways.

I think a not-so-emphasized message from the Book of Jonah that may be helpful to us is the people's response.  As I said yesterday, the people--and even their king--responded to Jonah's word of warning, by getting into the ashes.  They were penitent.  Upon hearing the truth, and being truly sorry, they responded appropriately for their time.

Now we could dismiss this as an interesting little story (the Book of Jonah only has four chapters) and nothing more, but that wouldn't be wise.  You see, we cannot claim that we haven't heard the truth.  We cannot be apathetic, as if we, have not been warned.  We know, don't we, that through Jesus, God has revealed there can be eternal life for us in heaven if we follow what has been prophetically given to us?  

We know as well, don't we, that Hell is real, and we could end up there if we do not change our ways?

Having said all that, it doesn't mean we should be living in fear, for in fact, God is merciful, he loves us and wants us to be with him.  But if in our stubbornness we ignore the truth as it has been revealed to us for centuries, we just might be in trouble.

Have you heard the truth?  If so, how are you responding to it?  To put a finer point on it, "What are modern-day ashes that would be our response? What is appropriate in our time?

Thinking back to the ashes we just received on our foreheads on Ash Wednesday, we now recognize that they are symbolic of our sorrow for our sins and our desire to be completely transformed during these days of Lent.

The people of Nineveh were saved, but it all began with their belief and their response to God's word, which Jonah proclaimed to them.

If you haven't heard the truth, please reach out and learn more about it, but remember, not just anyone can give you God's saving message.  There are many who--intentionally or not--deliver a message that is not sound, wrapped up in a shiny package.

Be sure you look for a guide who is founded in tradition, historically honest, and deeply, solidly theological.

May these 40 days of Lent be the start to a new-found faith for you, or increase the stirrings of the Holy Spirit already present within.

Janet Cassidy
janetcassidy.com

 

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