From Ashes to Victory- The Hero’s Call to Repentance and Redemption

Every great hero has a defining moment where they must face or experience something that they need to overcome in order to push forward. Without this turning point, there is no growth, no redemption and ultimately no victory.

Ash Wednesday is that moment for Christians.

The beginning of Lent and a time where we are called to repentance and to experience an inner transformation that reminds us that we must deny ourselves in order to rise to greater.

Just like any hero about to undertake a journey, there is preparation. Shrove Tuesday serves as this period to prepare us for spiritual battles, as well as the trials and tests we will face over the next 40 days.

Transformation is never easy, it requires discipline, perseverance and great faith in order to experience the fullness of the transformation and the victory on the other side.

As Lent begins, we must learn to face our own weaknesses, even our downfalls, so that we can seek renewal and rise to a new level.

We will look at three heroes who underwent a major transformative process and what they had to confront before taking a new step and direction that thrust them towards their destiny.

Like them, will you confront your demons this Lent, no matter how terrifying they seem? Will you stand strong and overcome the trials you face, no matter how difficult? will you answer the call, even if you can’t see the way forward?

I can tell you; you have got this and you will emerge victorious.

 

Iron Man’s Wake-Up Call: Confronting Who We’ve Become

As Yinsen said in the first Iron Man film: “So you’re a man who has everything and nothing.”

These words can cut deep especially to a man like Tony Stark, an arrogant, eccentric, but brilliantly minded billionaire who is now a captor by a group of people who used his very own weapons against him.

Aside from a fellow captor, a device preventing shrapnel from piercing his heart and a basic supply of rations, he had nothing.

Denying things for ourselves in Lent is generally a choice, we choose what to give up, certain foods, social media, or for the truly hardy, their phones.

Even choosing Jesus as our Lord and Saviour is a choice. We can’t force someone into this, it wouldn’t be true faith and if anything, they may be more hesitant to even make that first step, all because it was made for them by other people, not because God called them to.

In Tony Starks case, he had no choice, this was forced. From a man who was used to having money as a solution in every area of his life, now had to literally fight for survival with no money and only a few basic resources around him. Talk about a reality check.

This is how Job must have felt when he lost everything. His flocks, his health, even his family. His own wife even convinced him to curse God. At this moment, he turned to God.

Just like Tony and Job, there may be times when it feels like we have lost everything. Through no fault of our own, there are times when it feels like we have been stripped of everything. Our health has come under attack, we’re struggling with our finances, we’re burned out from life, uncertain of how things can get better.

As we learn from both of these people, things do get better. But it was only after a period of self-reflection that we emerge on the other side victorious.

Tony Stark’s wakeup call was when he recognized his own flaws and saw the potential danger the weapons his company manufactured could cause. He built a basic battle suit, destroyed all the weapons his captors had and then strove to cease manufacturing of all weapons his company produces. In turn, he also builds a modified version of the original battle suit, using it and his wealth for good and becomes the acclaimed hero ‘Iron Man.’

In the book of Job, the main theme is about his suffering and not understanding why he was going through it. He was a righteous man and God even described him as a “faithful servant.” Yet he continued to trust God and understand that he wasn’t meant to understand what was happening in his life, only that he could trust God.

He didn’t just survive his trials, he was restored and blessed with twice as much as what he had before. Trust that God can and will do the same for you.

As fire refines iron, just like Tony let’s suit up because your transformation begins now. Like Job, we need to understand that despite suffering and trials whether physical or mental, God will always watch over us and be with us every step of the way.

Don’t ignore your weaknesses or the sins in your life. This is the time to be renewed. This is a time for us to wake up and to do that we need to be honest not just with ourselves but with God and get into agreement with him that we will answer the call and follow the path he has given us.

What in your life needs to change before you walk out in faith? What preparations are you making, whether that’s leaving something behind or taking something with you? How are you going to enter the first step of Lent?

In Shrove Tuesday, we need to enter a period of self-reflection before stepping out the door and taking that first step that leads into the actual beginning of Lent that is Ash Wednesday where we embrace the new changes that God has blessed us with and we not only rise from the ashes, but that we are ash itself.

 

Simba’s Return: Facing the Ashes of Our Past

While Tony and Job had to face their struggles head-on, others like Simba, ran from their past before finding the courage to return.

At a young age, Simba lost his father, was chased from his homeland, and was betrayed by his uncle Scar—the mastermind behind it all.

Overnight he went from the future king of Pride Rock to a nomad and outsider.

It wasn’t until he met Timon and Pumbaa that they taught him to forge the troubled past and embrace the present, thanks to their song Hakuna Mutata, which means no worries in Swahili.

Only after seeing his father’s reflection and hearing from him in a spirit form is he reminded of who he is, a King’s Son.

Ecclesiastes 3:20 reads: “All go to one place. All are from dust and to dust all return.”

Ash Wednesday is about recognizing our morality and sin. In the Old Testament, those who sinned would sprinkle ash on their heads and enter a period of repentance—a powerful reminder that we all return to dust.

The easy option when we sin is to run. Adam and Eve hid when they sinned, Moses ran when he killed an Egyptian. Even Peter ran from Jesus when he denied him during the walk to Golgotha.

Backing out of the journey near the beginning of Lent is something that may sound appealing. It would even be very tempting considering what we are going to encounter. But facing things is how we overcome. While our identity lies in the good things in our lives, it also lies in the bad things, that includes mistakes we’ve made and even sin that needs confessing.

Like Joseph in Egypt, Simba struggled with who he was. Instead of embracing his true identity, he wrestled against it—literally, especially when Nala tries to convince him to come back. Even though he looked like a lion, inside he was still a lion cub.

Joseph was betrayed by his brothers, sold into slavery and eventually imprisoned for a crime he never committed. I’m sure he felt that he lost his identify, especially as he was regarded as Jacob’s favourite son.

When negative situations or even people come against us, we feel like we’ve been knocked down a peg, we feel like we’ve lost some value.

Think of gold, it doesn’t shine when it’s first dug up. It’s covered in dirt, mixed with impurities, and looks nothing like the treasure it’s meant to be. But once refined in fire, it emerges radiant. That is what trials do to us. God isn’t trying to destroy us, he’s refining us.

Once he became the second in command to Egypt, Joesph flourished, had great power and had a renowned identify for being a just ruler. When his brothers came to Egypt for food during a famine, Joseph couldn’t run, he had to face them, having remembered what they did to him all those years ago.

But after hearing his brother’s guilt and the fact that Judah was even willing to take Benjamin’s place (that is some serious sibling love and believe me I would know.) Joseph finally revealed himself, forgave his brothers and had all of them, along with their father move to Egypt where they stayed.

After receiving encouragement from his father and Rafiki—and rediscovering his inner strength, Simba finally returns to face Scar and reclaim his kingdom. Even fathering a son himself sometime later.

The trial period while uncomfortable is necessary, it’s a part of the process towards the victory. Sometimes we have to lose ourselves to find ourself, even discovering new things within us that will help you grow into the person God created you to be.

God doesn’t call us to stay in the ashes, he calls us to rise. So if you feel stretched, shaken, or stripped of what once was, take heart. The fire is refining you, not destroying you. Will you step forward and claim the destiny He has prepared for you?

 

Luke Skywalker’s Choice: Rising from Failure and Embracing the Mission

While Simba was forced into exile, Luke Skywalker chose it. Consumed by guilt over his nephew Ben Solo’s betrayal and the destruction of the new Jedi Order, he withdrew from everything he once stood for.

Guilt ridden and feeling that he let every single person down, he felt that the jedi were well and truly finished.

Here was a man who saw his father at the cost of his own life destroy Emperor Palpatine and take over the mantle as Grandmaster of the Jedi Order.

By the time we see him at the end of The Force Awakens, he still wears the Jedi robes, but the Jedi ways are long behind him.

In effect, he becomes a shadow of his former self.

We’ve all been there. You start something great, life throws a wrench in your plans, and suddenly, exile sounds pretty good—whether it’s a deserted island or just binge-watching Netflix in your room.

This happened to Luke Skywalker near the beginning of his calling as the Jedi Grandmaster. He had barely walked the journey before he chose to throw in the towel.

Part of this was that he thought he was alone. Instead of reaching out to others during his dark periods, he chose to become a hermit and cut off all contact with everyone.

When things have gone wrong in our lives our initial reaction is to run and hide. Especially when we have made the mistakes that seem to have severe ramifications.

The problem is that while we can put distance between things, they are still active and still alive. The problems will continue to grow until it is dealt with.

Going through the journey of Lent is something one is not meant to undertake by themselves. Some parts will require solidarity, but for the majority of the journey, we are to do walk, but to do that we need to reach out to others.

Whether you need and wherever you are in your journey, don’t be afraid to reach out. There is strength in numbers and together not only can all of us start Lent strong, but we can emerge victorious and stronger together at the end.

After Rey sought out Luke Skywalker to ask for his help in joining the resistance to fight against the first Order, he kept pushing her away, no matter how persistent she was. Eventually he forced her to leave the planet after witnessing an encounter she had with the enemy.

Elisha also did this with Elijah when he kept following him around after he was anointed to be Elijah’s successor.

Elijah tried to shake off Elisha, but the man stuck to him like a determined sidekick—think R2-D2 following Luke across the galaxy.

When the time came for Elijah to leave this world, he asked Elisha what he wanted from him. He replied that he wanted to receive a double portion of Elijah’s spirit. If he watched Elijah get taken up to Heaven it would be made so.

Elisha did and inherited Elijah’s cloak. As a result of this and his faithfulness to Elijah and to God, over his lifetime, he accomplished twice what Elijah did in his own life.

Yoda came to Luke as a force spirit and explained to him that “Failure is the greatest teacher.”

He eventually made a stand against the enemy using the power of the force to project a lifelike illusion of himself, allowing Rey and everyone in the Resistance to escape.

Once everyone had evacuated to safety, Luke collapsed from mental stress and eventually became one with the force himself.

What is an unusual twist in this tale is that his story mimics that of Obi Wan Kenobi, the jedi who mentored him and also who mentored his father in his younger days.

Just like Obi Wan sacrificed himself to push Luke into his destiny. Luke’s sacrifice helped Rey rise up to become a jedi and embrace her destiny as one, ensuring that they live on.

Look at what both Elisha and Luke accomplished, all because they acknowledged that their destinies could not be accomplished by themselves, they needed others to push them forward. Mentors who could guide them. Elisha had Elijah. Luke had Yoda and they themselves achieved incredible things that had long lasting effects many years later.

As we begin Lent, may we embrace the challenges we face, but also the changes they will bring within us. We too have things that God has given us to accomplish that will affect others many years from now. It isn’t just restricted to your family, friends or even your church, but to the world, because this world needs you and every one of your gifts.

What are you afraid of that is causing you to not reach out to someone? What is holding you back from doing great things? Find people who not only support you, but cheer you on this journey.

Lent isn’t meant to be walked alone. It’s a pilgrimage of faith, where we strengthen each other, just as mentors strengthen heroes. Who will you reach out to this season? And who might God be sending to encourage you and for you to encourage?

 

Conclusion

Every single hero faces a moment where they have to decide. Tony Stark had to confront his flaws so that he could rise up to become Iron Man. Simba had to stop running and embrace his new identity and Luke Skywalker had to step out of his isolation and embrace the mission he had once more.

Just like them, you now stand at that exact moment.

Lent is not just about denying ourselves things, it is also about transforming ourselves. A time when we are being refined into something new. Into who you were created to be.

Part of this process is facing up to things we have been running from and walking towards our destiny.

Is it going to be easy? No. Will it test and try us? Yes. But you are never walking this path alone. Even at moments where you have to take steps by yourself, you have God with you and your companions cheering from the sidelines.

Like Joseph, you may feel forgotten. Like Job, you may feel tested. Like Elisha, you will need to endure. But one of the beautiful things that each of these heroes and stories tell us is that, the test and trials are not the end, but they are a necessary step towards greater.

This Lent, will you rise from the ashes? Will you embrace the journey ahead, even if you don’t yet see the final victory?

These next 40 days won’t be a walk in the park. They will both challenge and stretch you, but they will also change you.

At the end of it, you will stand victorious and emerge stronger than before.

Take the first step hero. The transformation journey begins now.

Disclaimer: A couple of pictures in this blog post are ‘designed by @Freepik.’ You can find similar ones at www.freepik.com