The Poison Apple

We've all heard the saying, "One bad apple ruins the whole bunch." Have you actually thought about what it means? Let's see if this anecdote helps you out a little. Today, I was driving to pick Dano up from school. (I'm what you like to call a 'bad driver magnet.' Whenever I drive, there seems to be some stupidhead on the road.) Anyway, I was driving and I have this problem with the speed limit. I don't speed, but it's very tempting to speed, especially when people who are behind you change lanes only to move right back in front of you. It irks me! The point of this story is this: how long have you been driving? Do you still obey traffic laws? How long were you driving before you stopped seeing the speed limit and obeying, no matter how fast everyone else was going?

I've only been driving for a couple months, and it's a temptation for me! How does this relate back to the original colloquialism? I'm only one driver. Can I influence every other driver that speeds, runs red lights or tailgates by myself? No, of course not. Have they influenced me? Absolutely! A lot of times I may think "Well, everyone else is speeding, so it's okay..." (Not that I ever speed, Mom and Dad, but it doesn't stop me from thinking it! :P) It doesn't take much for the wrong kinds of friends to influence you in the wrong way. No matter how strong you think you are, when you don't surround yourself primarily by people who share the same mindset (or an even stronger mindset) as you, you're going to fail.

Check THIS out. It says in here that even one small cut to the apple can begin the rotting process. Who have you allowed to cut you? Who have you let influence you? Are you hanging around people who are going to build you up or cut you down? It says in James that friendship with the world causes enmity with God (James 4:4). This is not saying that having lost friends is a sin. This is saying that when you condone sin in your life, it's like condoning worldly influence. When you condone sin in your life, you are making friends with the world.

So think about it, are you like Snow White? When you're offered a temporary pleasure in the world, what do you do? Do you take it from the creepy old woman, only to be tricked into your own death? Or do you think twice and neglect taking candy from strangers? Choose your influences carefully.