Influence of Social Surroundings
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atmosphere calculated to perfect moral culture and to keep the fear of
the Lord continually before him. John, the forerunner of Christ, did
not expose himself to evil conversation and the corrupting influences
of the world. He feared the effect upon his conscience, that sin might
not appear to him so exceedingly sinful. He chose rather to have his
home in the wilderness, where his senses would not be perverted by
his surroundings. Should we not learn something from this example
of one whom Christ honored and of whom He said: “Among them
that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the
Baptist”?
The first thirty years of Christ’s life were passed in retirement.
Ministering angels waited upon the Lord of life as He walked side
by side with the peasants and laborers among the hills of Nazareth,
unrecognized and unhonored. These noble examples should teach us
to avoid evil influences and to shun the society of those who do not live
aright. We should not flatter ourselves that we are too strong for any
such influences to affect us, but we should in humility guard ourselves
from danger.
Ancient Israel were especially directed by God to be and remain
a people separate from all nations. They were not to be subjected
to witnessing the idolatry of those about them, lest their own hearts
should be corrupted, lest familiarity with ungodly practices should
make them appear less wicked in their eyes. Few realize their own
weakness and that the natural sinfulness of the human heart too often
paralyzes their noblest endeavors.
The baleful influence of sin poisons the life of the soul. Our only
safety is in separation from those who live in its darkness. The Lord
has enjoined upon us to come out from among them and be separate,
and to touch not the unclean thing, and He will receive us and will be a
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Father unto us, and we shall be His sons and daughters. If we wish to
be adopted into the family of God, to become children of the heavenly
King, we must comply with His conditions; we must come out from
the world and stand as a peculiar people before the Lord, obeying His
precepts and serving Him.
Lot chose Sodom for his home because he saw that there were
advantages to be gained there from a worldly point of view. But after
he had established himself, and grown rich in earthly treasure, he was
convinced that he had made a mistake in not taking into consideration