Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. Isaiah 43:18
“On its way to Jerusalem, Israel was purified in the wilderness and was trained to forget the customs of Egypt. Similarly the Word has graciously prescribed for us the holy fast of forty days of Lent. Let us make it a time of purification and purging, so that after the fast we will be prepared to go to the upper room and eat with him, to be partakers of the joys of heaven. There is no other way for us to be prepared to go up to Jerusalem and eat the Passover but to apply ourselves to the forty-day fast.”
Athanasius of Alexandria (c. 296-373) in Festal Letter 6, ARL 109 (ACCS3; Downers Grove: IVP, 2003) 331.
We are about halfway through Lent so it’s good to remind ourselves why were are doing this. Its for our purification and purging. It’s to prepare us to live life after Lent as “partakers of the joys of heaven.”
To do this we must forget the proverbial customs of Egypt. The significances of this is often lost.
Athanasius wrote this Lent reminder from Egypt. He said to forget the most advanced society in antiquity. No place was more awesome than Egypt. God wanted them to realized they could do better with Him.
The same is true today. God has plans for us that are a hundred times better whatever we can create in USA or anywhere else. We must let go of our agenda to take hold of God’s plan for us. That’s why we pray, fast, and give in Lent.
These disciplines open our hands and our future for something better that only God can sort and supply.
Shout out to Sammy Hoag, our son who turns 25 today. Happy Birthday! It has been fun to watch him observe Lent through the years and see how it formed him into a faithful follower of Jesus.
Applying ourselves to the purging and purifying make us less worldly and give the world a taste of heaven.