Watch Your Associations in These Last Days

"Bad associations spoil useful habits." -1 CORINTHIANS 15:33.

WE ARE living in very difficult times.  The Bible calls the era that began in 1914 "the last days."  These  "critical times hard to deal with" are marked by conditions that are far worse than any experienced by mankind prior to that climactic year. (2 Timothy 3:1-5) Moreover, the world will continue to deteriorate, for Bible prophecy foretold that "wicked men and imposters will advance from bad to worse." -2 Timothy 3:13. 

For entertainment, many people view or practice things that the Bible identifies as violent, sexually immoral, spiritistic, or ungodly  in other ways.   For instance, the Internet, television programs, movies, novels, and magazine articles often present violence  and immorality in a favorable light. Behavior once considered unacceptable has even been legalized in some places. But that does  not make such conduct acceptable to God. - Read Romans 1:28-32.

Note: And, remember people, it is God and Jesus Christ who will be judging you when that times comes and it is what they want that counts, not society or anyone else. 

In the first century, Jesus' followers shunned unclean entertainment. Because of this and their godly conduct in general, they were maligned and persecuted by others.  "They are puzzled that you [Christians] do not continue running with them in the same decadent course of debauchery," wrote the apostle Peter, "so they speak abusively of you." (1 Peter 4:4)  Today, too, those who live by God's standards are considered peculiar by the world. Furthermore,  "all those desiring to live with godly devotion in association with Christ Jesus will also be persecuted." -2 Timothy 3:12. 

Next time: Watch Your Associations in These Last Days - "BAD ASSOCIATIONS SPOIL USEFUL HABITS" 

From the Watchtower magazine