From time to time, we all give thought to those who have fallen away from the Lord. Most of them seem to be unreachable, and when we consider their conditions before God, it can be very depressing. Peter writes (in 2 Peter 2:21-22) that "it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them." Then, he compares them to dogs returning to their vomit or hogs to the mire. We must take every opportunity to encourage their return to the Lord, but they must choose.

However, we can learn from the sad condition of the fallen away a valuable lesson that will help us to stay on the right path. As we consider the lives of those who discontinue their service to God, we notice a common factor among them as they fall away. The type of friends they most closely associate with shifts from Christians to non-Christians. Many times, as we observe their slow departure, we can see a progressive disinterest in the church as they solidify close relationships with those of the world. Finally, they are pulled so far from God's will that they leave the church to relieve themselves of their own hypocrisy. The lesson we can learn is that it is important to choose our closest friends from the members of God's family. Not that we can't have friends outside the church, but socializing and associating almost exclusively with non-Christians has proven to be a big step in the wrong direction. Paul makes this point in 1 Corinthians 15:33, "evil companionships corrupt good morals." Also, in Galatians 6:8, Paul says "For he who sows to the flesh will of the flesh reap corruption but he who sows to the spirit will of the spirit reap everlasting life." The wrong friends can corrupt our hearts and rob us of eternal life in heaven.

The New Testament describes and promotes the strong family relationship we are to have as members of the body of Christ. In 1 John 1:7, we read: "if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another." In 1 Thessalonians 5:11, Paul says "therefore comfort each other and edify one another." We are also to be "hospitable to one another." (1 Peter 4:9) Paul's Galatian letter tells us to "bear one another's burdens." (Galatians 6:2) Again, in Philippians 2:4 Paul says, "let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others." To fulfill these passages, we certainly must have close associations with our brethren. But the relationship among Christians is to be even deeper than this. Consider 1 Peter 4:8 where we are told "And above all things have a fervent love for one another." We can also "confess our faults one to another." (James 5:16)

These are just a few passages that discuss our relationships as brethren. Our closest friends ought to be those who can help us go to heaven, not those who will hinder us! Close communication with fellow Christians can keep us from "conforming to the world." We need to be around non-Christians to influence them to obey the gospel. But when we "fervently love" them more than we love our brethren, who is influencing whom?

We should also promote this same conduct in our children. Children are easily influenced, and we need to be concerned with who our children's closest friends are. When they reach adulthood, we no longer have influence over their choices of friends. While they are at home, we can create an environment that enables them to have frequent contact with other Christian families. Do you provide opportunities for your children to develop friendships within the kingdom? Do we have other Christians in our homes for social gatherings, singings, or Bible studies? Do they understand the importance of these friendships as a special part of God's plan for us? "By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another." John 13:35.