We’ve begun the yearly Lenten journey; is it your personal journey to greater devotion to Jesus?
I was reading a sermon from 1936 written by a Dr. McConkey. His talk is flowery, more than we’re used to in our spare-writing times, but what he wrote strikes me as a helpful image as we set out on our Lenten journey. Picture a great arch, like the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, the famous arching celebrating victory in war.
“The highway of consecration is the first sight which greets the believer’s eyes as he steps out from the crimson fountain which has cleansed his sin-stained soul. It confronts him like a great triumphal arch, opening into the pathway of his life of ministry. A pierced hand flings open its portals before his eyes. A voice from the Redeemer of his soul cries out, ‘I beseech you, present your body as a living sacrifice.’ Its gates are crimsoned with the blood of Him who gave Himself for you. Its archway is empurpled with the rich clusters of fruitage the hidden Vine is seeking to bear through you, His yielding branch. It echoes with the shouts of victory of those who walk its blessed path. It is resplendent with the glory of God which shines from the lives that walk therein in the light of His face. Oh, what a highway is this! Have you entered it?”
From this Lent to the future Easter of your own resurrection to everlasting life stretches the journey of the rest of your life. Do you see it as “the highway of consecration,” a journey to make with spiritual discipline through the daily transformation of your minds? I confess that I do only somewhat; how about you? What can our motivation be except Jesu, our Arch of Victory?
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