Let me impress upon you the great importance of keeping Christian company. The best way to keep out of the old associations is to form and heartily cultivate the new. David said,
Again the very first act of Moses’ life singled out for mention and commendation is that, having come to age, he wholeheartedly threw in his lot with the despised people of God.
Do not start with the idea that Christians are perfect, or you will have a big disappointment in store. They are not so; far from it, but you will find amongst them a warmth and a love which you will never find in the world. Stick to them, and if they do not come quite up to your expectations, or square with your notions, stick to them still. Even should they give you the cold shoulder, return the compliment by giving them a warm heart, and you will soon get your capital repaid with interest.
Generally, however, matters stand the other way about. I have heard a good many affirm that their fellow Christians are so cold, that they never get spoken to after the service or meeting. On closer investigation I nearly always find that these very people are noted for jumping up instantly the meeting closes and leaving, without giving anyone a chance of a friendly handshake. They are cold, not their fellows. A frequent symptom of disease is that one complains of cold when really it is quite warm.
To shun the company of Christians is an early symptom of spiritual disease. When shepherds see one sheep standing in a field apart from the rest, they at once conclude that it is ill. When well, all keep together. Beware, then, of sulking alone. It is the stragglers who fall an easy prey to the wily foe.
Beware of old companionships and associations. Sometimes when the convert himself starts brightly, confesses the Lord, and seeks to break with his old companions, they for reasons of their own, are not willing to part with him, and move heaven and earth to retain him. Sometimes it happens that in after years, love begins to grow cold, and the believer begins by slow degrees at first, more rapidly as time goes on, to drift back to people and to things he once forsook. Sometimes, most subtle and dangerous of all, we entertain the idea that if only we mix with our former ungodly associates, we shall thereby more effectually gain their ear and influence them for good. This is a great mistake. We shall not lift them up. They will drag us down.
Experience universally confirms this statement, and so does Scripture.
Jehoshaphat was one of the best of Judah’s kings, Ahab the very worst that ever disgraced the throne of Israel, and yet we read,
With what result? Did Jehoshaphat elevate Ahab to his own level, so that he could say with satisfaction, “Thou hast become as I am?” By no means; the very reverse. In verse 3 of the same chapter, Jehoshaphat says:
“I am as thou art,” and the admission brought no blush of shame to his cheek.
This was followed by the expedition to Ramoth-gilead, in which Ahab lost his life, and Jehoshaphat escaped with the skin of his teeth, only to be confronted with a very serious message from God, through Jehu the prophet,
If you wish further evidence from Scripture, read carefully Genesis chapters 13, 14 and 19, which give the history of Lot’s sad downfall through his alliance with the men of Sodom. He did not elevate them; they degraded him; so much so, that nobody paid the least attention when he attempted to testify of the impending storm; and we ourselves should have had no certainty as to whether he was a true saint of God or not, had it not been that the Spirit of God, knowing the difficulty, set the question at rest by calling him in the New Testament “that righteous man” (2 Peter 2:88(For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;) (2 Peter 2:8)).
Of course you must meet your old companions, but lose no time in letting them know that the old relations exist no more. Speak to them of Christ. Whatever you do, do not descend to the old level, and be hail-fellow-well-met as before. So surely as you do, your power, Samson-like, will have fled, and you will become their easy prey.
In the great majority of cases, one good, bold confession of Christ is enough. Some may receive a home-thrust that will eventually result in their conversion, others may just leave you. If not, you will find it best to leave them. If you cannot help them, they can harm you. Do not give them the opportunity.
The foregoing remarks apply with equal force of the forming of new links and associations. A guiding star in your Christian life should be this word—
Frame this text in your prayers, and hang it in a prominent place on the walls of your heart and memory. It will save you a world of sorrow if obeyed. You will need it, for you cannot go through the world without meeting associations of many kinds.
Beware of the “unequal yoke” in society; beware of it in business; many a Christian has had his testimony ruined through partnership with an unconverted man, and thus getting mixed up with his questionable practices. Above all beware of it in marriage. A few days or weeks suffice to break the unequal yoke in society or in business, but here it is lifelong, either for yourself or your unconverted partner. How many promising young lives have been darkened, and what chapters of sorrow could be penned as a result of disobedience to the divine command. Would that I could lift up my voice like a trumpet and warn every young convert in the land.