The sin and death that is within us is something that must be dealt with on Earth. It is the problem of Earth and not that of Heaven. Thus, Jesus comes to deal with it here on Earth that we might be saved from sin and death by his death and resurrection. On Ash Wednesday, we embrace that reality and enter the season of Lent recognizing that we can’t deal with death without Jesus.

Image: The story of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. Location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:King_Hezekiah,_clouthed_in_sackcloth,_spreads_open_the_letter_before_the_Lord.jpg