Playing Around The Viper's Hole

"If we play around the viper's hole--it no wonder that we are bitten!"

An old proverb advises us not to play with sharp-edged tools, lest we cut our fingers.

It is a sin to trifle with sin! If we must play, we had better find harmless toys! That evil which caused Christ a bloody death, is no fit theme for any man's sport.

Playing with wickedness is a hazardous game! Sooner or later, we will pluck the lion of sin by the beard, and we shall be torn in pieces!

This is true of indulgence in strong drink: "Do not gaze at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly! In the end it bites like a snake, and poisons like a viper!"

This is equally true of all other forms of evil, especially of the lusts of the flesh. Lewd words, soon lead to foul deeds. Yet such is the folly of men, that they run dreadful risks in sheer wantonness, as though vipers and cobras were fine playmates, and devils were merry-makers!

"Keep your servant from deliberate sins! Do not let them control me. Then I will be free of guilt and innocent of great sin." Psalm 19:13

(Charles Spurgeon, "Flowers from a Puritan's Garden" 1883)

Rom 6:6  knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin;
Rom 6:7  for he who has died is freed from sin.

How much more true of playing around the viper's hole of witches, vampires, sorcerers, and "dark angels", horoscopes, Strange Fire (false prophets who move in the occult), holding to evolution and psychology? Playing with ANY form of evil will have it's effect. 

1Th 5:21  But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; 
1Th 5:22  abstain from every form of evil. 
1Th 5:23  Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Good is not mixed with evil. Good is by definition, pure, as God has set forth. We aren't to find good IN evil, pull it out and declare we're holding on to that which is good. Phil. 4:8 says to think on whatever is true, pure...  

May we be like Joseph and run, not stand there and contemplate (like Eve did) and say, "How could I do this great evil and sin against God?".