There are a lot of children who dream of someday being a professional baseball player. After watching their favorite baseball team, a child may even go out in the yard and imagine playing in a professional game. The child may practice their skills with a parent, or even play a lot of “catch” with their friends. However, the child will really never know how good they truly are until they compare their skills with others in competition. They will only see the level of their abilities when they test those skills among others.
In a similar way, this is how we learn anything regarding any gifting that we may have inside or outside of the church community. If we are “good” at something or accomplished in any arena, it will always be considered in contrast with others who have similar or different abilities. If we are capable in any arena it will also be clear to others around us.
In our small group studies as of late, we have been talking about the contrast between Adam and Eve’s view of God in the first Eden and ours in the New Heavens and New Earth. Again, the comparison is important. We know God to be a saving, forgiving, and gracious God in a way unknown to our original parents. Because of Fall of mankind in rebellion to the Creator, we understand the depth of God’s love as we have experienced it in the suffering and sacrifice of Christ Jesus. In addition, it is through his Son that our God continues to pour out his continual mercies in light of our continual rebellion. Without the contrast between sin and grace, darkness and light, well, our appreciation would be much more limited.
This is the reality and contrast that we hope to accomplish in the celebration of Easter and the Easter Season. In Lent, we engage the depth and regularity of our sin, the needed power of the Holy Spirit, and the important reality of our continuing need for repentance and Christian maturity. We embrace that we are sinners, but engage in the battle of our flesh that we may be constantly more conformed to the Image of His Son.
In our Lenten worship, we introduce contrasts through a silent procession of the cross, an embrace of the Ten Commandments, an emphasis on the spiritual disciplines, and the muting of our “Alleluias”. We do these things with purpose and in submission to historic Christianity to provide a contrast with our sinfulness and need (a somber and bleak reality), and the glory, joy and hope found in the promise of Easter.
Thus, on Easter Day, there is celebration, light, beauty and feasting!!! Our need and sin are real, but the hope and joy of the Resurrection far exceed our sin. The Resurrection covers and banishes the guilt and shame that has been dealt with at the cross. In the contrast we embrace the reality of being saint and sinner at once; of being saved, but not completely; of having a lasting sure hope, with a need to continue in our search for God; of having a gratefulness for the gift of salvation, yet a passion for a world in need of the same.
Thus, we embrace both Lent and Easter so that we might be aided by their contrast, and encouraged to understand our true identity as found in the life and work of the Lord Jesus Christ on our behalf.
Thanks be to God.