There comes a time when it becomes obvious that something must be done. For me, it was this week. My embarrassment peaked when I had to pull over (on highway 27) to fill up the air on my left front bald tire. One of our fellow Sunday worshipers even spotted me and offered to help. So, the next person I spoke to was Tire Discounters. However, for my safety, he insisted on changing out both front tires. Why did I put up with a balding tire so long?

Friend, what should we do about the spiritual balding areas in our lives?

Speaking through the prophet Joel, God says:Joel 2:12–13 (ESV) — 12 “Yet even now,” declares the LORD, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; 13 and rend your hearts and not your garments.” Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster.

God does not want us to buy those cheap old tires next to the road. Nor does He want us to get the retread tires. Instead, He tells us exactly what to do to make ourselves new:

• “Yet even now” – make no mistake, this is a time sensitive matter. In Joel’s day, it was referred to as the “day of the Lord” (1:15; 2:1,11, 31; 3:14). The 1st application was God’s current fierce anger towards His enemies. The 2nd was the day Jesus came into the world – during the time of Herod. For us, those two events have passed. There is very little time left.
  • “Return to me” – not to a toxic friend or situation.
  • “With all your heart” – your whole being in complete loyalty. God will not share you. It is all or nothing!
  • This will require:
  o Fasting (what you put into your body must cease).
  o Crying (what must come out of your body is tears).
  o Mourning (a deep form of internal regretful grief).
  • In other words, “rend your hearts and not your garments”. You must change from the inside. A facade will just not do!

At this point, Joel begs the people to “return to the LORD your God”. As with my tires, you might be procrastinating – making up excuses as to why you should not ACT NOW!

• It will cost too much – But Joel says YAHWEH is “gracious”.
  • I am too far gone – but YAHWEH is “merciful”.
  • He will be angry – YAHWEH is “slow to anger”.
  • He will be harsh – YAHWEH is “abounding in steadfast love”.
  • He could not possibly overlook this – “and he relents over disaster”.

Friend, those balding tires are starting to look bad! Your life is unraveling before your very eyes. So, what is keeping you from rending your heart, right now, so that Jesus, (who is seated on the throne) – can make “all things new” (Rev.21:5)?

Lord, today I return to you with all my heart. I pledge to starve my passions, see my tears, Lord, hear my mourning. Dear, Father in heaven, restore my soul – make me new. Through Your Son and My Savior, I pray. Amen.