|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.| Joel 2:12-13.
This post goes along with our study Reading Twelve Old Testament Books. You can purchase the workbook here: Study Guide for Reading Twelve Old Testament Books.
Blow a Trumpet and Sound an Alarm
|Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble.| Joel 2:1. The day of the LORD is coming, it is near, it is indeed great and very awesome. Can anyone endure it? Final judgment. An army will invade, and the land will lay desolate. The LORD utters His voice before His army and they follow His command. These invaders are intent on one purpose, utter destruction. Do not miss the fact that they are commanded by the Lord God to bring this destruction.
There are false prophets saying, “peace peace,” when there is no peace. Mockers are mocking saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? Jesus tells us that no one knows the coming of the Son of Man. It will be just like in the days of Noah. The people were eating and drinking, marrying, and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark. Then, Jesus tells us the people did not understand until the flood came and took them all away. Sisters, there is a day when the LORD will judge the living and the dead. It is the day to repent of our repenting.
Repent of Your Repenting
|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 2:13
We are given warning after warning, example after example of the dreadful day of the Lord. Joel does not paint a pretty picture of this coming day. There are no little cherubs playing harps. It is a dark and gloomy day. The people are described as being in anguish and all faces are pale. But in God’s grace and mercy, He waits! And He warns! There is a call to authentic repentance.
Joel urges the people to return to God with all their hearts.
God knows the heart. He knows there are some who only pretend to repent. They tear their garments, throw ashes on their heads, cut themselves and many other outward signs that look like repentance but in fact are just acts. Look at the words of Christ in Matthew 23:27.
|Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness.|
There are many people filling the pews of church buildings today who are only white washed tombs. These people are going through the acts of worship. Who seem to be repentant but their hearts are far from God. The book of Joel is a grace warning to call all of us to check our hearts. Peter urges in his second epistle to be diligent to make certain of God’s calling and choosing us. 2 Peter 1:10. The Apostle Paul teaches in the book of Philippians to work out our salvation with fear and trembling. Philippians 2:12.
Repentance, true repentance is remorse and great sorrow for sinning against God. True repentance is a change of mind. It is a turning away from sin and going the other direction. It is time to repent of our repenting! Go to the foot of the cross and ask God to forgive us our superficial repentance!
God Keeps His Promises
When we truly turn to God He hears and heals. But if there is no true repentance He judges. There is a day, “The Day of the Lord.” It is coming. Are you ready for this day? What God says He will do, He will do!
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I had to admit, I wasn’t sure where you were going with this by the wording of your title, Lisa. But then, ahh, turn away from the PRETENSE of repenting. Yes!
You laid down much wisdom and truth in this post. Well done! The time is at hand. We all need to be aware of our self-deception and any mere appearance of “being good”. Because appearance doesn’t cut it. God sees through it all. He will judge rightly.
Thank you for speaking truth here! 🙂
Hi, Glenience! So thankful that the meaning of the title came through in the rest of the post! We do need to be aware. Too much sleeping going on in the church! God does see through it all! And He still offers grace and repentance! Thank you for your words of encouragement!
Great article, Lisa. I desire to follow the Lord with my whole heart. But now, I also want my heart to keep that godly sorrow…to repent and return to the Lord when I wander off the path. Our intimate relationship with Jesus is more vibrant and deep when we humbly look to his mercy to wash away our sin and shame. Blessings!
Hi, Karen! I love that you desire to keep a tender, teachable heart! We should all desire that! Without that tender heart, there is no humility to come to Christ! Thank you for your encouraging words!
I think that we have a teaching about grace today that has been taught incorrectly. Paul speaks of grace to do God’s will. God’s will is that we develop into the image of Christ in our day. I think of repentance and of God’s cleansing us from sin. I think that we can ask God for this. Only he can accomplish the many things that need to be done in us. If we confess our sins the Bible says that he will forgive us and ‘cleanse us’ from all sin. He will enable us to turn away from sin. To get victory in our lives and to walk godly in Christ.
I agree, lindam! According to some, grace is a license to stay the way you are! I hear it said all the time, “Jesus loves you just the way you are.” This is true but what you said is the greater truth. God’s will is to conform His children into the image of His Son!
THis is such a great article, Lisa- thank you so much for linking up at Salt and Light yesterday!
Thank you, for your encouraging words Shannon! Thank you for hosting this link up! I know it must be a little time-consuming!