Beginning of the End - Ellen G. White

Dangers of Ungodly Associates
Satan is most successful in drawing Christians into sin by
encouraging them to spend time with people who do not love God,
and by joining them in their amusements. God requires of His
people now as much difference from the world in customs, habits,
and principles as He required of Israel in ancient times. The
warnings He gives to Christians, forbidding them to follow the spirit
and customs of those who do not love God, are just as clear as the
warnings He gave the Hebrews against blending in with the heathen.
We cannot be too firm in not spending time with people who exert
an influence to lead us away from God. While we pray, "Lead us not
into temptation," we are to avoid temptation as much as possible.
When the Israelites were in peace and security they were drawn
into sin. Ease and self-indulgence left the fortress of the heart
unguarded, and shameful thoughts found a way in. Traitors inside
the camp brought down the protection of principle and betrayed
Israel into the power of Satan. This is how Satan seeks to ruin
people. A long preparation process, unknown to the world, goes on
in the heart before the Christian commits open sin. The mind does
not come down all at once from purity and holiness to wickedness,
corruption, and crime. By giving in to impure thoughts, sin that used
to be hated will become pleasant.
Satan is using every method to make crime and degrading
immorality popular. We cannot walk the streets of our cities without
seeing startling advertisements of crime to be presented in some
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