The Heart of the Matter

Joel 2:12 “Therefore also now, saith the LORD, Turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning.”

A few years ago, my wife and I were ministering at a church in Connecticut. One day that week, I drove a few hours to Massachusetts to preach in a school chapel. Coming back from this little trip, I arrived in the town where we were staying. I came into the center of town and wasn’t quite sure which direction to turn. I’m ashamed to say this, but I ended up driving in circles for about half an hour before finding my way “home”!  Each right or left turn I took had buildings that looked familiar, but the way didn’t lead to my borrowed home. Finally, I drove back to the interstate and got off on the correct exit to carefully retrace my directions to the home we were staying at.

Now, would I have been content just to be in the town where we were staying or to just be around familiar buildings? No-I was only content when I arrived “home” where my wife was. Here in Joel, the children of Israel remained away from God. They had turned from Him long ago and were reaping the awful fruit of rebellion. The locusts had come and destroyed their food supply, thus casting the land into a famine. It was at this time that the prophet Joel carried God’s message to His people: “Turn ye even to me with all your heart. . . .”

They were experiencing great hardship, but the real problem was not the locusts or the lack of food-the root problem was their relationship to God. The same is true today. Many hardships that people experience today have their root in their relationship to God. God does not change! He desires for His people to walk in fellowship with Him; and when they choose to turn away, they will experience hardship and emptiness.

How are things in your life? If they are not right, turn back to God. Notice what the Lord says in the first part of verse 13: “And rend your heart, and not your garments. . . .” It is not good enough to just turn from your wicked ways. The Israelites were good at making a big show of tearing their garments and putting ashes on their heads in outward “repentance.”  God was not interested in a show-He wanted their hearts.

Outward reform, including both being good and doing good works, will not set things right in your life. Only when you return in your heart to fellowship with God will you find the missing peace.

One time my wife fixed a delicious spaghetti supper for our family. Unfortunately my children became suspicious because the sauce contained onions, a vegetable they try to avoid at all costs. I told them they were to quietly eat their spaghetti without another complaining word about the onions. I was not so concerned about the food actually going down into their stomachs and giving them nutrition (though this outward action was good for them too); I was more concerned about their attitude and their heart in the matter. I was serious about their learning how to obey and to be thankful for what is set before them.

So it is with God. Yes, outward reform is important and good, but it is nothing without inward repentance toward God. He wants our hearts! And verse 13 gives us a compelling reason to turn back to God: “For he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness. . . .” Aren’t you glad that our God is this way?

When I was lost, being in a familiar place wasn’t good enough for me-I wanted to be home. When you are away from God, just turning from your sin won’t do-you need to go home! Give God your heart today and find that He is what you have been missing.