1 Cor. 15:33 Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.” That’s the rule.
The exception? “Good morals heal bad company.” Are both possible? Yes. However, bad company ruining good morals happens much more often than good morals healing bad company. Why? Because as of Gen. 3, we live in a “fallen” world, a sin stained world.
In 2 Corinthians, Paul made the same point from a different angle. 6:14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? The Holy Spirit ordered believers NOT to partner with unbelievers. If righteousness usually overwhelmed lawlessness, the Holy Spirit would probably have encouraged close relationships with unbelievers; BUT HE DIDN’T. Why? Because lawlessness changes righteousness much more often.
This fits perfectly with Jesus’ words in Mt. 7:13-14. “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.” It will always be MANY/DESTRUCTION and FEW/LIFE.
If life/righteousness/good morals most of the time regenerated destruction/lawlessness/bad company there would be no need to warn believers. However, since that isn’t the case, HEED THE WARNINGS.
A perfect illustration of this spiritual principle can be found in the Kings of Israel and Judah. When the Kingdom of Israel split, 10 tribes withdrew from Judah and Benjamin and formed the northern Kingdom and called themselves Israel. Judah and Benjamin called themselves Judah.
Up north there were 19 kings during their 200 year history. The first King was Jeroboam and he started the idolatrous snowball rolling down the mountain with 2 gold calves. Every king for 2 centuries followed his evil ways. Not a single king broke the chains of wickedness and idolatry. Jeroboam’s influence lasted for 200 consecutive years; evil corrupted evil, corrupted evil, etc.
Down south, in Judah, they had 20 kings over a period of 350 years. 8 of them were either good or very good. Does that give you a clue about the other 12? They were truly the dirty dozen. Regarding influence, it was: bad, bad, good, good, bad, bad, bad, good, good, good, good, bad, good, bad, bad, good, bad, bad, bad, bad.
Both Kingdoms illustrate the normal tendency for bad to corrupt good more often than the other way around. So does that mean it will never happen? NO! Sometimes it will, but not most of the time. But remember: the warnings in scripture are very, very, very clear. LIGHT CAN HAVE NO CLOSE RELATIONSHIPS WITH DARKNESS. Why? Because God is mean and wants to spoil all of your fun in life? NO! Because He loves His children too much to let anyone destroy His eternal relationship with His faithful children.
Might be time to think and pray carefully about these relationships: Serious dating relationships? Fiancé? Best friendships? Business partnerships?
Remember: Father God said to all of His children - LIGHT CAN HAVE NO CLOSE RELATIONSHIPS WITH DARKNESS. And everyone is either LIGHT or DARKNESS, no in-betweens. Faithful followers of Jesus Christ are LIGHT. Anyone who isn’t a faithful follower of Jesus Christ is DARKNESS. Time for you to make any changes? If so, do it now; before Satan whispers in your ears that it isn’t really necessary. God bless.
