This time of year when our thoughts are meant to turn to repentance, the words of King Solomon can be a valuable guide. He wrote in Mishlei (Proverbs 27:10): טוב שכן קרוב מאח רחוק "A neighbor who is near is better than a brother who is distant".
Rabbenu the Alsheikh Haqqadosh says the neighbor who is near is the good inclination who desires only good for the person. He is better than the brother who is distant which is the evil inclination whose purpose is to make you stumble and fall. The good inclination is likened to a neighbor because it only enters one's body at the age of thirteen, whereas the evil inclination is likened to a brother because it is there from birth. As it says: "If you do not improve yourself, sin crouches at the entrance [birth], and it is after you, but you can overcome it". (Bereshith 4:7).
In view of this one should make every effort not to wait till it is too late to make Teshubah (repent), but should do so immediately.
(See Alshikh on Mishlei, 27:10)
