Yesterday was Fat Tuesday, a day that is highly celebrated in the city of New Orleans as the final day of the Mardi Gras celebration. On Fat Tuesday people are invited to indulge in anything that brings them pleasure and “eat drink and be merry” is the slogan of choice in the streets. People are invited to get the gluttony out of their systems because at midnight the authorities will clear the streets and the season of Lent will begin with Ash Wednesday church services.
Lent is a season in the church calendar that includes the 46 days before Easter. During this season the people of God walk with Jesus towards his death and resurrection, asking themselves along the way what in their own life needs to be put to death and what needs to find a way to live. In the early church this season was used to prepare people for their baptisms, a moment when they would commit to total immersion in the life of Christ. And for those who had already been baptized Lent was an invitation to get “back in the water” and return to Jesus with a renewed commitment.
People cling to Fat Tuesday because it isn’t easy to pursue this total immersion in Jesus Christ. If we are honest, we know that although Lent is the right way to go, we find our loyalties divided between the Fat Tuesday life we have so enjoyed and the Ash Wednesday call to begin the journey of crucifying the flesh. And so, often times we try to live both Tuesday and Wednesday simultaneously but that rarely works. In fact, Jesus says as much in Luke 11:17, “Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them: “Any kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and a house divided against itself will fall.”
The facts are the facts. You will become structurally unsound if you have competing forces living in the same house. You simply can’t live Tuesday and Wednesday at the same time. You cannot say whatever foul or unfruitful thing you want to say and worship God well with the same lips. You cannot love your brothers and sisters and use them for sexual gratification. You cannot give God your whole life and keep some of your possessions to yourself. You cannot love the kingdom of God and continue to have friends only from one racial or ethnic background. You cannot eat whatever you want and be healthy. You cannot do whatever you want and be disciplined. It is a lie from the enemy that you can have it both ways. You simply can’t be structurally sound, at least not for long, if your house is divided.
It’s important to remember that there’s a battle going on for the structure of your life. Make no mistake about it, Satan wants to rule your house but God wants your life to be his temple and that’s going to create a bit of tension until you decide who rules the roost. And so how about making a decision about whether or not you are going to let the enemy keep sleeping on your couch or if you’re ready to let God invade your space.
Perhaps some good news will help you make the turn to Ash Wednesday. God loves a fixer upper and he’ll help you clean house. Luke 11:21-22, “When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his possessions are safe. But when someone stronger attacks and overpowers him, he takes away the armor in which the man trusted and divides up his plunder. Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.
Some of us have been living Fat Tuesday lives and lucky us, Ash Wednesday is the day when the One who holds all authority comes down our streets to bind the strongman and begin a season of cleaning house. Jesus comes only by invitation, so make sure you let him know if you’re ready for the work to begin. I know that some of you think it’s pointless because your house has looked the same forever. You think that it will never change and it’s too far gone, but that’s the life of the enemy. Hear the truth. Jesus is more powerful than whatever has overpowered you.
