What was created in 1859 by Etienne Lenoir and just about everyone uses one to get around today?

He invented the internal combustion engine. Which is a heat engine where the combustion of a fuel occurs with an oxidizer in a combustion chamber. The expansion of the high temperature and high pressure gasses produced by combustion applies direct force to run the engine.

Have you heard of an external combustion Engine?

External combustion engines run on a temperature difference. That is, if one blue plate is colder than the other, than the wheel will turn, as it moves the cold to equalize between both plates. As the cold moves through the engine from the lower to the upper plate, the engine turns.

Cold on either plate causes the engine to run.

This got me thinking about associating with non-Christians, since they can influence us. The Bible tells us not to be associated with non-Christians, but then we also see Jesus that did…. Where does that leave us?

Psalm 1:1(NASB)
How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked,
Nor stand in the path of sinners

Proverbs 12:20 (NASB)
He who walks with wise men will be wise,
But the companion of fools will suffer harm.

Proverbs 22:3(NASB)
The prudent sees the evil and hides himself,
But the naive go on, and are punished for it.

1 Corinthians15:33 (NASB)
Do not be deceived:
“Bad company corrupts good morals.”

Psalm 26:3-5(NASB)
For Your lovingkindness
is before my eyes,
And I have walked in Your truth.
I do not sit with deceitful men,
Nor will I go with pretenders.
I hate the assembly of evildoers,
And I will not sit with the wicked.

2 Corinthians 6:16b-17 (NASB)
“Therefore, come out from their midst and be separate,” says the Lord.
“And do not touch what is unclean;
And I will welcome you.

I think the issue is that Non-Christians can influence us into unhealthy paths. Such as the image to the right.

But wait a minute as we said before, Jesus hung out with non-Christians….

Luke 5:30-21 (NASB)
The Pharisees and their scribes began grumbling at His disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with the tax collectors and sinners?” And Jesus answered and said to them, “It is not those who are well who need a physician, but those who are sick.

James 5:20 (NASB)
let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.

An external combustion engine lets the influence go either way, from the lower plate to the upper, or from the upper plate to the lower.

So I think the point is that when we are with non-Christians, we need to make sure that the transfer of influence or energy needs to be from us to them, and we have to be careful it isn’t their bad influences transferring to us.

Galatians 6:1 (NASB)
Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted

Matthew 5:16 (NASB)
Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

Let’s make sure that when we are with non-Christians they see our Christian influence.

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