I am Going to Quit by G. B. T.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Mar 30, 1916

I am Going to Quit

By G. B. T.

FREQUENTLY I hear people say they are going to quit this or that wrong habit. But it is not enough to be continually going to quit. The thing to do is to quit. So long as a man is just going to stop sinning, he hasn’t stopped. The thing to do is to stop.

Here is a man addicted to strong drink. He feels his need of deliverance from this terrible appetite, and he says, “I am going to quit.” But he goes on drinking. So long as he is only going to quit, he has not stopped, and he will keep on getting drunk. Going to quit is not sufficient. What this old toper needs to do is to quit; and having quit, stay quit. Then he will be a sober man.

Another man uses profane language. He feels condemned for this wicked habit. He says, “This is not right, and I am going to quit.” But when? Now, or later? So long as he is merely going to stop swearing, he will keep on using the name of God in vain. What he needs to do is to quit. Then he is delivered; and if he stays quit, he will not take the name of God in vain any more.

A brother some time ago was talking with a man who said, “I believe I could be a Christian if I could only quit swearing.” This brother said, “I have been talking with you for two hours, and you have not sworn once. You have quit; all you need to do is to stay quit.” To those who, cost what it will, quit any wrong habit, the Lord promises strength continually, day by day, to conquer the habit and stop committing sin.

Here is a man who uses tobacco. He wishes to be delivered from the filthy, unclean habit. He says, “I am going to quit.” Good! But when? Today? this month? the next? when? We observe that he keeps on smoking; and he will continue to smoke until he reaches the point in his experience where he really quits this dirty habit. When he says, “I quit now,” instead of, “I am going to quit,” then God will give him continual and complete deliverance.

A man can go to perdition and all the time be resolving to quit this or that wrong thing. Going to quit looks toward some time in the future. This will not suffice. The thing to do is to stop now.

Here is a man who is continually criticizing his brethren. He is full of all kinds of envy, jealousy, and evil surmisings. The Spirit convicts him, and he feels that this wicked thing must be gotten rid of. He says, “I know this is a wrong thing, and I am going to quit it.” Very good; but when are you going to quit? Why not quit now? Instead of saying, “I am going to quit,” why not say, “The thing is wrong, and by the grace of God I quit it forever,” then by faith lay hold of the power of God to give you daily and continual victory over the wicked thing?

Take impatience. More people confess defeat on this point apparently than on any other. Some confess this same sin over and over again. At camp meetings or other gatherings, the Spirit convicts them, and we hear them say, “I am going home from this meeting and stop being cross and impatient in my home.” Going home to quit! How long do you plan to be at home before you quit? a week? a month? a year? But why do you wait? Why not quit now? Why not quit before you go home? Stop today, and go home a patient man. There is as much power to conquer your snappy and impatient spirit now as any time; you can have the victory this very hour, as well as when you get home.

The reason we do not gain more victories is because we continually plan to stop at some other time, some other place, or under some other circumstances. This procrastination, putting the matter off, suits the enemy well. He does not care what we are going to do some time in the future; it is deciding to do it now, accepting the promise and claiming a present victory, that he fears. Many expect somehow to gain the victory over every sin sometime before the coming of the Lord. But how? There will be no more power in the future than there is now. If you ever gain the victory, you will have to come to the place where you surrender the will wholly to God and stop the sin. Then why not stop now?

But you say, “I can’t stop.” By faith a man can quit any sin that he wants to quit, and quit when he wants to do so. Cannot God give a man victory over the tobacco habit, over pride, over passion, over impatience, over any sin?—Certainly!

But when? Cannot the Lord give us the victory now just as well as next year? We limit God’s power by our unbelief.

The way to have victory is to claim it by faith now; to resolve in the name of God that we are done with that sin which has conquered us again and again. When we say, “Here and now I quit,” that moment we are victors; and moment by moment the Lord is able to give the victory, day after day, week after week, month after month, year after year, till the end of life, or till the coming of the Lord.

Righteousness by faith claims victory over sin now. Victory over sin is not a question of feeling, but of faith. Faith is the victory. When we believe, the victory is ours, a present, living reality.

G. B. T.