Fan or Follower: Part 2

We are still in the midst of the “Not a Fan” series at Access, based on the book of the same title by Kyle Idleman. Today in my morning Bible reading, I came across the following verse, and I think it goes along with that theme quite perfectly:

“Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and He relents from sending calamity.”

– Joel 2:13

Many of us want to “rend our garment,” but not our heart. What does that mean? Rending your garment in the times of the book of Joel meant to show an outward sign of mourning by tearing your clothes apart. What then does it mean to similarly rend your heart? I have to think that it is a lot more about the state of your heart’s devotion than it’s actual physical wholeness.

To rend your heart as opposed to your garment is about your heart’s devotion. We can do things outwardly that show we are Godly, just as torn garments would reflect a state of mourning. But if the heart is not also rendered, the outward symbolism is a waste. In other words, if your heart is far from God, no amount of outward show of Christianity can make up for that.

In assessing if I am a “fan” or “follower” of Christ, I need to dig deep. Is my heart rendered in addition to my garment? Meaning, am I living the life on the inside that I am showing on the outside? It’s fairly easy for many of us to “fake it” in the faith. We can say the right things, answer the right answers, and tear the right garments. But where are our hearts? That is what we need to honestly assess when we are doing self-inspections.

Today, look past your “garments” of appearance, and get to the point of it all. Who has your heart?