Some Thoughts for Ash Wednesday

By Mark Richards

I’ve heard a lot of explanations over the years for why we put ashes on our foreheads on Ash Wednesday during Lent. In general, the explanations have fallen into two categories. Either it has to do with repentance of sin (sitting in ashes: Job 42:6, Matthew 11:21, etc.) or it has to do with a reminder of our own mortality (ashes to ashes, dust to dust: Genesis 13:9).  So which one is it?  It’s certainly possible that the tradition began with one of these as a motivation and the other was added later, but is there a connection between these two seemingly disparate explanations?

Faced with the prospect of the end of our earthly lives (terminal cancer diagnosis, etc.), people often want to use what little time that they have left to help others or otherwise do good things.  We know that abiding in Jesus is essential for bearing good fruit for the Kingdom of God (John 15:10).  We also know that sin creates a barrier between us and God, and makes abiding in Him, in a perfect way, impossible (Isaiah 59:2).  So repentance and forgiveness are essential to being as effective as we can in doing the good works which God has prepared in advance for us to do (Ephesians 2:10).  So when we look at our lives and see how little time any of us has to make an impact in this life, it motivates us to repent so that we can do our work while connected to the true vine who is Christ Jesus. 

There is another connection that some might point to between mortality and repentance.  For those who are not in Christ, looking at the end of their lives might motivate them to repent in order to spend eternity in Heaven.  Some would look at this and impugn such a person’s motives and say “he or she is only looking for a ‘get out of Hell free’ card.”  Even if that is the initial motivator, my two cents would be that any motivation, selfish or otherwise, that brings someone into a genuine relationship with Christ is a positive thing.  However, for those who are in Christ, some might look at this and think that they must continuously be in “ashes mode” in order to earn their way into heaven.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  Salvation is a free gift for any who believe in Jesus, it cannot be earned (Ephesians 2:8-9).  When the German monk Martin Luther learned this truth, it changed his life and the entire world. 

Finally, in 1 Corinthians 3:10-15, Paul encourages the church at Corinth to work to build things that will last into eternity.  He says that for believers whose work does not meet that test and their work is consumed by the revealing fire “he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.”  By the grace of God, I think we would all rather have the experience described in Matthew 25:21 in which Jesus says, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” 

Whether we are 16 years of age and in perfect health, or the doctor has given us six months to live, the end is coming.  The question is, what will we do with the time that we have?

Heavenly Father, may we all be mindful of how temporary we are.  Pour out your Spirit on us that we may be spurred on to repentance and then to faithful service in your kingdom.  In the strong name of Jesus Christ we pray, Amen.