It is pride that more than anything else stands in the way of repentance. For the acknowledging of wrong and error, the confession of one's own inability, folly, weakness, the bowing to a higher Rule--this calls for humility. "Seest thou how Ahab humbleth himself before me?" said God when Ahab became penitent. With some it is the hardest thing in the world to "give in," for it means a death-blow to that which is strongest in them--pride. Stroke after stroke fell upon the prodigal before his pride gave way and he resolved to turn back to his father's home and plead for forgiveness and a servant's place. But pride must yield, be it by affliction or judgment or by God's goodness (for grace humbles [208] a man as much the thunders of Sinai)--it must break; and if it does not break in this world, then it will in the next. "As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow, and every tongue shall confess."

      Look but at the expressions the Holy Spirit used to describe repentance, you sinner of the world, you Christian who are serving God and Baal, and see that your playing at fast and loose, your dallying with sin, your friendship with the world, your partnership with the flesh and the devil, do not meet the requirement of God. When he told men to repent, these are the terms he used: "Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes (not simply hide them from the eyes of men): cease to do evil; learn to do well. . . . Come now, and let us reason together, saith Jehovah: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." Or, again: "Cast away from you your transgressions wherewith ye have transgressed;" or, "Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return unto Jehovah, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon." It is clear, clean-cut language that fairly breathes uncompromising decision for God and against sin. "Put away," "cast away," "forsake," your sins and your transgressions. "Reckon yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord." And God will have nothing less than that. We must take that step, make that turn. Whether we can hold out so--this is another consideration which does not come in now. The first thing is the decision for God and righteousness, the merciless killing of the [209] evil lust and desire. Then afterwards, when God has forgiven you and set your feet on the Rock, you may trust his grace to keep you and enable you each day to meet its temptation. But if you are wrong now, get right; get right with God!

[TAG 208-210]