91. Individual Repentance.

Return ye now every one from his evil way, and make your ways and your doings good.. - Jeremiah 18:11.

THIS is the voice of mercy, anxious about each individual.

Justice might slay the sinner in his sin; but mercy would slay the sin, and spare the sinner. Yet it is the voice of holiness, opposed to each man's special evil way; and claiming of each man an acceptable life. The Lord Jesus has not come to be the Minister of sin, but the Destroyer of it.

Let us hear each one for himself on this occasion, for have we not every one some evil way of his own?

It is Jehovah's voice, and concerning its message we enquire:

I. WHAT? "Return."

This includes three things.

1. Stop! Stand still! Go not a foot further in your evil way.

2. Turn round! Face towards God, holiness, heaven, etc.

3.Hasten back! Practically move in the right way, and continue in that good course which is the reverse of your present one.

II. WHEN? "Return ye now."

1. Every step makes so much more to retrace.

2. Every step makes it more difficult to return.

3. Further wandering will be wanton and willful; a presumptuous rejection of the warning which is now so earnestly given.

4. Never again may you have an opportunity to return.

· There is nothing certain about life save its uncertainty.

· Joy is being lost by this procrastination; you are missing present peace of mind.

· God is robbed of your service, and you cannot make up the loss.

· Man is being injured by your example.

III. WHO? "Return ye now every one." The personality of the call to each hearer of it is necessary, for—

1. Each man has his own peculiar way of sin.

2. Each man is apt to think of his neighbor's sin more than his own.

3. Each man needs a special effectual call ere he will turn.

4. Each man is now lovingly invited to return.

IV. FROM WHAT? "From his evil way."

"We have turned every one to his own way" (Isa. 53:6). This way of your own you are to return from,—

· Your own personal sin.

· Your constitutional sin.

· Your most frequent sin.

To many it will be important to be able to discover this favorite sin.

1. It is that into which you are most easily led.

2. It is that which has already been most indulged by you.

3. It is that about which you are most irritated if you are rebuked concerning it. Darling sins must not be touched, or their fond friends grow angry.

4. It is that for which you give up other sins; a covetous person will not be extravagant, a hypocrite will deny himself, etc.

5. It is that with which you are most loth to part.

6. It is that on which you spend most money, energy, etc. From such a darling sin each man must turn.

V. TO WHAT? "Make your ways and doings good."

Negative religion is not enough, there must be positive goodness.

1. Your general habits or ways must be made good as a whole.

2. Your ways in reference to yourself.

3. Your doings towards both God and man.

Personal examination of the utmost importance.

Practical repentance an absolute necessity.

Yet how difficult is the way back. To descend into sin is easy, but to retrace your steps, this is the work, this is the labor.

Only by faith in the Lord Jesus can it be accomplished, a look at his cross breeds more repentance than anything in the world besides.

To those who believe in Jesus, he will send the Holy Spirit to lead them in the way everlasting.