Lent—Fasting Vs.
Feasting
The lexicographer tells us that Lent is the season of 40
days preceding Easter; yet the number of days from Ashe Wednesday, which is the
portal of the Lenten season, to April 4, Easter Sunday, is 47. Is the
lexicographer correct? Yes. We arrive at the 40 days by eliminating the
Sundays. But why eliminate the Sundays? For answer, we must enter deeper into
the subject. Lent is defined also as the season for fasting. But a Christian
cannot fast on Sunday. Sunday is the Christian’s great day of victory and
rejoicing. It is the Day of all days to partake of “good things.” The Bread of
Life, the Living Water, is to be publicly dispensed on that day. Deem it, i.e.,
God’s word, “holy and willingly hear and learn it.” So, while Sunday is in the
Lenten season, it is no more part of Lent than oil is part of water when the
two are contained in the same vessel. In either case, the two will not mix. The
Christian, therefore, alternates between fasting during the week and fasting on
Sundays during the Lenten season.
Let us note the high regard in which the early Christians
held the great import on the Cross. For 40 days they prepared themselves in
order to be better able to partake of the spiritual refreshments which are offered
in consequence of the victory of the Cross. From the history of that time it
appears that the number of Christians corresponded to the number partaking of
the cup. In those days there were but two classes—believers and unbelievers. We
have only two classes today, but the class of unbelievers is subdivided into
infidels and mongrels who mix their Christianity with worldliness in which all
pretentions to Christianity are neutralized. Of course, no Mongrel will confess
his Mongrelism and few infidels will confess their infidelity, because both are
under the hypnotic influence of satan and will ever remain so until they give
the holy spirit free access to their hearts. Every true believer partakes of
the cup. Dear Reader, are you one who believes there is salvation outside of
the church? How do you gain access to the savior’s blood, that Lifegiving
stream? “I am the door, he that climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief
and a robber.”
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