Occasions of sin are very dangerous to the life of our souls. It’s like being on the front lines of a battle. You are almost certainly to be killed. As the Scripture says, “He that loveth the danger shall perish in it.” Ecclus. 3:27. We cannot mingle with sinners without them having a bad influence on us. If you walk into a steel factory with all the dust in the air, it’s going to get on you. If you walk in a barnyard where the cows have been, you are going to get manure on your shoes. As in the order of nature, so also in the order of grace. “He that toucheth pitch, shall be defiled with it: and he that hath fellowship with the proud, shall put on pride.” Ecclesiasticus (Sirach) 13:1
We see Moses warning the people in Numbers, chapter 16, to get away from Core, Abiron, and Nathan, the evil men and their bunch, lest they be involved in their sin. When we associate with evil men, such as bars and other places where they curse, blaspheme, are gluttonous, and sometimes violent, then we are giving approval to their way of life. And if we continue to make a habit of it, we become like them. Then we become enemies of God,and worthy of chastisements, such as Core, Abiron and Dathan. God told Moses to warn the people: [24] ”Command the whole people to separate themselves from the tents of Core and Dathan and Abiron.” And Moses said to them: [26]” He said to the multitude: Depart from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of theirs, lest you be involved in their sins. ” “Lest you be involved in their sins.” he said. That’s what happens when we associate with sinners away from God. And what happened to Core, Abiron and Dathan? Did God pretend they did nothing wrong, and everything went well with them, or, were they punished severely, terribly and quickly. They didn’t even die. They were swallowed alive, body and soul, into hell! [31] ”And immediately as he had made an end of speaking, the earth broke asunder under their feet: [32] And opening her mouth, devoured them with their tents and all their substance. [33] And they went down alive into hell the ground closing upon them, and they perished from among the people. [34] But all Israel, that was standing round about, fled at the cry of them that were perishing: saying: Lest perhaps the earth swallow us up also. [35] And a fire coming out from the Lord, destroyed the two hundred and fifty men that offered the incense. ” “They went down alive into hell.” They didn’t even die.
Why does God seem to be asleep? Why does He take so long sometimes to deal with sinners? Because he wishes their repentance. He wishes no one damned. That’s why He died on the cross for the whole human race, to save us from hell! And yet, sin has consequences, and it is punished every day in this life. Remember Sodom and Gomorrha, where fire rained down from heaven, and only 4 souls were saved. All the rest were damned. St. Jude says they are suffering the punishment of eternal fire. [7] ”As Sodom and Gomorrha, and the neighbouring cities, in like manner, having given themselves to fornication, and going after other flesh, were made an example, suffering the punishment of eternal fire. [8] In like manner these men also defile the flesh, and despise dominion, and blaspheme majesty.” Remember Noah and the flood whereas only eight souls were saved…to be continued. If we wish to of the little number of the saved, we must avoid evil occasions of sin. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0t-rc2eF6E Also, SCREAMS FROM HELL, a true story from the 1990’s in Siberia. They were only doing earth research. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uU2HFFCr71k