We have a tendency to practice the outward manifestations of godliness rather than take the effort to make the internal heart changes that lead to godliness. This was one of the reasons why Jesus castigated the Pharisees. They appeared godly on the outside, but their heart was far from God. Jesus referred to them as white washed tombs. This is a problem that the prophet Joel described in the Old Testament.

Joel described a devastating locust invasion that would foreshadow an invasion by a powerful northern army that would soon sweep down upon the nation. Five times in this short book Joel warned of the imminent day of the LORD that referred to an impending judgment. Thomas Carlyle observed, “The greatest of all faults is to be conscious of none.” Joel encouraged the people that it’s not to late to come back to God:

“Yet even now,” declares the LORD, “Return to Me with all your heart, and with fasting, weeping and mourning; and rend your heart and not your garments.” Now return to the LORD your God, for He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in lovingkindness and relenting of evil. (Joel 2:12-13)

We must realize that it’s never too late to return to God. The devil wants us to think that we’ve gone too far and that God will never take us back. This type of attitude fails to recognize the amazing grace of God.

The charge to rend your heart and not your garments emphasizes the need for an inward transformation. A fundamental aspect of true repentance is a disposition to see our sins as God sees them. Inward contrition is more important than an outward show of religion. If we’re truly sorry about our sins, then we don’t want to hang onto them, but we’ll forsake them. Repentance not only says “I’m sorry,” but it proclaims that “I’m through.” We must also realize that we will fail at times. We know that repentance has occurred when we experience brokenness because of our sin. If there is no brokenness, then there is no repentance. The Psalmist was reminded of God’s forgiveness:

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise. (Psalm 51:17)

We can come back to God because of the character of God. God is not the One who has moved – we are the ones who drift away and we must come back to Him. Does God seem distant to you? He’s waiting for you to come back. If you come back to Him, He will restore the lost years and give you His inexpressible joy and a peace that surpasses all understanding:

“Then I will make up to you for the years That the swarming locust has eaten, the creeping locust, the stripping locust and the gnawing locust, My great army which I sent among you.” (Joel 2:25)

Rick Higgins

Associate Pastor – Discipleship.  The Church at LifePark

Professor of Discipleship, Columbia International University