The Company you keep can make God weep. Often there is in the church a pride that we Christians can save the lost with our constant presence and good deeds. This is presumptuous, for one Christ alone saves (Acts 4:10-12) and secondly do not heed the words of Solomon at your own peril, "Do not be misled: "Bad company ruins good morals." (1 Corinthians 15:33, Paul quoting Solomon). The company we keep can lead to the shipwreck we do not seek. Many brothers and sisters in Christ believe they can save people who are lost and wicked by their presence and influence. What folly and pride. All Christians of this sensibility reap is corruption from the people they seek to save. Many crossover bands, Christians who thought touring with Satanists will make an impact have fallen or become shadows and echoes of the evil ones they sought to lead to the Light. Many who have unsaved friends think the views of their friends will not influence them, that instead their light, being city on hill will make those in village of the devil come and join them, but instead Christians water down the gospel, they remove repentance (Revelation 3:19), they change Christ to be more comfortable looking (2 Corinthians 11:4), and slowly they fade their morals from being staunchly against homosexual marriage to marching in Gay Parades, from standing for Life to joining rallies of Death, and so on. The same comes with wicked and unsaved people of other religions. Brothers and sisters in Christ think they can turn these misguided individuals to the Messiah, but instead they become yoked in Yoga, zoom for Zumba, and every idolatry under the sun to please the friend they haven't yet won, until they find that sun of idolatries and sin more alluring than Son who saves. The Apostle Paul warns against this, "Now I urge you, brethren, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them," (Romans 16:17), "For I am jealous for you with the jealousy of God himself. I promised you as a pure bride to one husband—Christ. But I fear that somehow your pure and undivided devotion to Christ will be corrupted, just as Eve was deceived by the cunning ways of the serpent. You happily put up with whatever anyone tells you, even if they preach a different Jesus than the one we preach, or a different kind of Spirit than the one you received, or a different kind of gospel than the one you believed. But I don’t consider myself inferior in any way to these “super apostles” who teach such things. These people are false apostles. They are deceitful workers who disguise themselves as apostles of Christ. But I am not surprised! Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no wonder that his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. In the end they will get the punishment their wicked deeds deserve," (2 Corinthians 11:2-4, 5, 13-15), and "Now the Holy Spirit tells us clearly that in the last times some will turn away from the true faith; they will follow deceptive spirits and teachings that come from demons." (1 Timothy 4:1). We are told even to keep away from having company or fellowship with other so called Christians who contradict the teachings of the Apostles in the Bible, "Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from every brother who leads an unruly life and not according to the tradition which you received from us," (2 Thessalonians 3:6), and "But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler--not even to eat with such a one," (1 Corinthians 5:11).
The Company you keep can keep you out of heaven. There are college students, who were once zealous for Christ now chide and cry out against their Lord after being influenced by their teacher and peers. So many like Peter said before entering the secular class room, "Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you," (Matthew 26:35), only to be crowing denials shortly after a semester or two. The Company you keep can keep you out of heaven. People think they can be unstained by unbelievers, but make no mistake, the Apostles were wiser, "Do not become partners with those who do not believe, for what partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship does light have with darkness?Don't team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness? What harmony can there be between Christ and the devil? How can a believer be a partner with an unbeliever? And what union can there be between God's temple and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God said: "I will live in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they will be my people," (2 Corinthians 6:14-16), "You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God," (James 4:4), "You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot have a part in both the Lord's table and the table of demons," (1 Corinthians 1`0:21), "Don't you realize that those who do wrong will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don't fool yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin, or who worship idols, or commit adultery, or are male prostitutes, or practice homosexuality, or are thieves, or greedy people, or drunkards, or are abusive, or cheat people--none of these will inherit the Kingdom of God." (1 Corinthians 6:9-11), and "Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him," (1 John 2:15).
We must be wary of company we keep, those people we call friends and fellowship with. It is not that Christ followers are weak, or that He is unable to stop evil. But rather it is what Jesus said, "Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak!" (Matthew 26:41). Our spirit is a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17) and we with Christ living in us can rise above anything, for all strength is in Him, "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength," (Philippians 4:13) and we more than conqueror, "But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ," (1 Corinthians 15:57) and we can find a way out of temptation with His help, "No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. So, my dear friends, flee from the worship of idols (other gods)." (1 Corinthians 10:13-14). However, our flesh, that nature and oubr body we still have is still subject to weakness, failure, and sin. As the Apostle Paul says, "The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions./For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want." (Galatians 5:17 NLT and NIV). We are either lead by our spirit which is lead by Holy Spirit or we lead by the flesh and desires of sin and Satan. We are saved by Jesus Christ and His sacrifice, we shall never experience the Second Death (Revelation 20:10) which is the burning furnace of hell because of our faith in Jesus and we shall dwell with Christ our Lord forever in New Heaven and Earth and Jerusalem (Revelation 21:1-15), but this current body on this fallen planet is subject to weakness, and it this weak corruption that can destroy us if we let it. So beware of those who would encourage your corruption and flesh, and instead fellowship with those who would build up and encourage Christ in you and your Spirit. For a day is coming when we will have new bodies not subjected to any temptation or corruptions (1 Corinthians 5:35-58), but until then we must fight the good fight of faith and endure to the end in following and loving and serving Jesus Christ. Amen.
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