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The Adventist Home
It was by associating with idolaters and joining in their festivities
that the Hebrews were led to transgress God’s law and bring His
judgments upon the nation. So now it is by leading the followers of
Christ to associate with the ungodly and unite in their amusements
that Satan is most successful in alluring them into sin. “Come out
from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not
the unclean.” God requires of His people now as great a distinction
from the world, in customs, habits, and principles, as He required of
Israel anciently
Samson’s Willful Choice—God’s providential care had been over
Samson, that he might be prepared to accomplish the work which he
was called to do. At the very outset of life he was surrounded with
favorable conditions for physical strength, intellectual vigor, and moral
purity. But under the influence of wicked associates he let go that hold
upon God which is man’s only safeguard, and he was swept away by
the tide of evil. Those who in the way of duty are brought into trial
may be sure that God will preserve them; but if men willfully place
themselves under the power of temptation, they will fall sooner or
later
The Insidious Leaven of Wickedness—Dear students, day and
night the prayers of your parents will follow you. Listen to their
entreaties and warnings, and do not choose reckless associates. You
cannot discern how the leaven of wickedness will insidiously corrupt
[461]
your mind and impair your habits and, by leading you to repeat evil
habits, cause you to develop an unsound character. You may see no
real danger and think that you will be able to do right as easily as
before you yielded to temptation to do wrong, but this is a mistake.
Parents and teachers who love and fear God may warn and entreat and
counsel, but it may all be in vain if you do not yield yourself to God
and improve the talents which He has given you to His glory
Beware of Those Indifferent to Religion—If children are with
those whose conversation is upon unimportant, earthly things, their
minds will come to the same level. If they hear the principles of
religion slurred and our faith belittled, if sly objections to the truth are
4
Patriarchs and Prophets, 458
.
5
Ibid., 568
.
6
The Youth’s Instructor, January 18, 1894
.