Wholly Surrendered to God
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and inattentive to their eternal interests, they are meeting with great
loss. The tempter will find access to them. He will spread nets for
their feet, and will lead them in uncertain paths. Those only are safe
whose hearts are garrisoned with pure principles. Like David they will
pray: “Hold up my goings in Thy paths, that my footsteps slip not.”
A constant battle must be kept up with the selfishness and corruption
of the human heart. Often the wicked seem to be prospered in their
way; but those who forget God, even for an hour or a moment, are
in a dangerous path. They may not realize its perils; but ere they are
aware, habit, like an iron band, holds them in subjection to the evil
with which they have tampered. God despises their course, and His
blessing will not attend them.
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No Tampering With Sin—I have seen that young men undertake
this work without connecting themselves with heaven. They place
themselves in the way of temptation to show their bravery. They laugh
at the folly of others. They know the right way; they know how to
conduct themselves. How easily they can resist temptation! How vain
to think of their falling! But they make not God their defense. Satan
has an insidious snare prepared for them, and they themselves become
the sport of fools.
Our great adversary has agents that are constantly hunting for an
opportunity to destroy souls, as a lion hunts his prey. Shun them,
young man; for, while they appear to be your friends, they will slyly
introduce evil ways and practices. They flatter you with their lips, and
offer to help and guide you; but their steps take hold on hell. If you
listen to their counsel, it may be the turning point in your life. One
safeguard removed from conscience, the indulgence of one evil habit,
a single neglect of the high claims of duty, may be the beginning of a
course of deception that will pass you into the ranks of those who are
serving Satan, while you are all the time professing to love God and
His cause. A moment of thoughtlessness, a single misstep, may turn
the whole current of your lives in the wrong direction. And you may
never know what caused your ruin until the sentence is pronounced:
“Depart from Me, ye that work iniquity.”
Avoid Evil Associates—Some young men know that what I have
said fairly describes their course. Their ways are not hidden from the
Lord, although they may be hidden from their best friends, even their
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fathers and mothers. I have little hope that some of these will ever