Where do you linger in life, and with whom do you linger?  This is an area where many Christians stumble.  They do not believe that what they do and where they go has any influence on their relationship with God and how they run the race of Christianity.  I am afraid, however, that they are deceiving themselves, and they are not the first ones to do so in this area. Paul warned Christians of this in the first century.

1 Corinthians 15:33 (ESV)
³³  Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.”

If you linger in places surrounded by sin, you will most likely be tainted by it. I do not know why some Christians have such a hard time understanding this.  Perhaps pride plays a major role.  Some believe they are so strong that nothing can cause them to stumble.  They should probably read the words of Paul when he warned the Christians at Corinth about this.  Because they felt they were spiritually invincible, Paul said, “Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall” (1 Corinthians 10:12).

We can all fall, and if we regularly put ourselves in the company of sin, the chances of that happening increase exponentially.  Let us be smart and realize how alluring sin can be.  Let us walk the way the Psalmist exhorted us to walk.  

Psalm 1:1 (ESV)
¹  Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers;

The blessed man is the one who remains steadfast (James 1:12), and that man is often the one who does not linger in the company of wickedness and sin.  Instead of keeping company with those who enjoy sinning, we should make a habit of being around those who love us enough to provoke us to love and good works (Hebrews 10:24).

I should point out that the company that Paul warned the saints at Corinth about were not necessarily those who were engaged in some type of immoral living.  In the context of 1 Corinthians 15, Paul is dealing with a doctrine that denied the resurrection of Christ.  Paul recognized the danger of false teaching and the influence it can have on us.  We are warned about lingering with those who believe, push, and promote false doctrine of any kind.  

Romans 16:17 (ESV)
¹⁷  I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. 

1 Timothy 6:20 (ESV)
²⁰  O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you. Avoid the irreverent babble and contradictions of what is falsely called “knowledge,”

Sin has a leavening influence (1 Corinthians 5:7-11).  Whether it involves people, places, or things, we should not linger around sin.  Instead, our time should be spent with people and in places where God is glorified.  Our chances of finishing the course are far greater that way.

As you wind down for the night, think about these things.