THE 3 MUSKETEERS (Part 2)

“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly; nor stands in the path of sinners; nor sits in the seat of the scornful” (Ps. 1:1, NKJV).

‘We’ and ‘Them’:

As teenagers, we like to seek the approval of people around us. We like to be liked. Sometimes, for us to be accepted, we tend to conform to other people’s pattern of life. We conform in dressing, in behaviour, in thinking, and even in language.

Of course, it is not a bad idea for one to adapt to his neighbourhood, to make friends at school, to work amicably in a new environment and among new people. However, this ‘conforming’ can be dangerous to the Christian. It can lead to the compromise of godly principles and the loss of one’s soul. 

The Scripture lets us know that we are different from ‘them’. This difference is so weighty that our relationship with God depends on it.

“Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God” (2 Cor. 6:14-16b).

“Bad company corrupts good manners” (1 Cor. 15:33). A notable adage says, “Show me your friend and I’ll tell you who you are”. Another says, “Birds of the same feather flock together”. These should be critical concerns for the believing teenager as he journeys through life in order to escape the wiles of unpleasant companions.

How do we find ourselves in their vicinity? 

Some are within our control, others beyond but in all cases; we have a choice to either stay around them or vote with our feet (like body, soul, and spirit). Some of them are our family members (nuclear and extended). We didn’t choose them but, along the line, we chose God over them. In other respects are our friends and acquaintances. We probably attended the same schools, lived in the same neighbourhoods, worked in the same organizations, had mutual friends, hung out in the same ‘watering holes’, are partners in business and may have even met in the same church. 

How can these affect us?

Their ‘counsel’, ‘path’, and ‘seat’ may influence us in a manner contrary to the will of God. They can appear in many forms and the Scripture has revealed them and warned us against associating with them (Prov. 20:19; 22:24-25; 24:21-22). Any intimate association with others that hinders us spiritually must be discontinued. We have to separate from anything that will degrade us morally and spiritually.

They can influence us by their conversation, opinions and ideas; their literature – books, magazines, and advertising; their entertainment – music, films, movies, cartoons, radio, internet, etc; their lifestyle – flamboyant, immoral, dishonest, and impertinent, etc.

As familiar as we may have been with them, when we gave our lives to Christ, it became our responsibility to obey God, not them. The onus then is on us to walk the divine path, stand firm in our faith, and sit in honorable assembly.