The practice of "rending garments" in the Old Testament was a sign of humility and repentance before the Lord. It is said of King Josiah in II Kings 22:11, "When he heard the words of the book of the law, he rent his clothes." I believed that religious people have carried over this rending of the clothes to this present age. You will not see the literal tearing of the garments, but some outward sign: the wearing of a cross, the signs on an automobile, a certain posture while praying, the walking of a church aisle, upswept hair with a pale face, the saying of "Praise the Lord" every other sentence, etc. All this pious palavering accomplishes one thing; it makes the Lord sick to His stomach. "I will spue you out of my mouth" (Rev. 3:16).
The old "Papa" in Rome is the greatest at "rending garments", yet if there ever was a hell-bound reprobate surely he is at the head of the class. And the rest of the "renders" are not far behind.
Now, when I consider myself, it causes a revulsion that produces a tearing (not of clothing, but of heart). My throat is an open grave, snake's poison is under my tongue, my mouth is full of cursing and bitterness. I am a dog that vomits and returns to eat it. I am a sow that wallows in the mire. I am filled with all unrighteousness, maliciousness, envy, murder, debate, malignity, backbiting, despitefulness, pride, boasting. And on and on. Rend my garments? Oh, no! The heart! I desire to flee from self; and if the heart is involved, I look at God's way out of the mess I'm in. Here is the way.
There is a majestic, sovereign, omnipotent, holy, just, kind, gracious Person who is "God manifest in the flesh" (I Tim. 3:16). This great God who became a man was sent by His Father to do what no other could do (Rom. 8:3-God, sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and by a sacrifice for sin, condemned sin in the flesh.") He, by Himself, purged our sins (Heb. 1:3). "Who, his own self bore our sins in his own body on the tree" (I Peter 2:24). "Once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself" (Heb. 9:26).
As I see Him hanging on that cross in my place, as my Substitute, suffering the wrath of God in my stead, I see the Glory of God in saving such a vile, evil, black-hearted fool as I. When He died it was not God's best effort to save sinners, but was the atonement, the satisfaction, the propitiation for all the sins of all His people.
No, I don't rend garments, but my heart is torn asunder as I see Him and I bow before Him as a beggar to plead His blood as my only hope.