Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 2 Timothy 2:22
I have always thought that it would be a wonderful experience to go on an African safari. The only thing that would make me a little nervous would be getting so close to the wild animals, because in the end, they are just that – wild animals. I would always wonder in the back of my mind if maybe the lions had collaborated earlier in the day and decided that they would attack one of the tourist vans just to see the look on the faces of the tourists. I can promise you that if one of those lions decided to attack, I wouldn’t be waiting around to see how it would play out. I would be gone – as fast as my legs could carry me – toward the safety of the vehicle. I’ve always heard that I don’t have to be faster than the lion to keep from being eaten; I just have to be faster than the guy behind me.
The point is, if you see something as dangerous as a lion coming toward you, and you had no gun, you would turn the other way and run as fast as you could. Sin is more dangerous than a lion. It can destroy your spiritual life. Run from the things that the devil wants to use to get you to fall. Run from the temptation the devil lays out there to try to get you to be impure. Run from the friends who would try to pull you from the things of God. Run from those who tell you that being right with God is impossible. Run from the path that everyone is taking just because it is easy. In Genesis 39, the Bible says that when Joseph was tempted, he “fled, and got him out.” The devil is roaming the earth as a lion, seeking whom he may devour, but we, like Joseph, must run from the snare of the devil.
The world is full of people, even Christians, who are too afraid to stand up for what is right. The shortened part of our verse today in 2 Timothy 2 says, “Flee also…but follow.” If we have dangers that we should run from, then there has to be a goal that we are running toward. Run to the path of holiness. Run to the friends who are taking a stand for Jesus Christ. Run to the safety of many counselors. Run to those who are encouraging you to follow God with all your heart. Run down the path that is not easy but is right.
You are quickly running toward the end of your race. No lasting pleasure can be found in what the devil has to offer. Make sure you are running in the right direction.
Read also: Genesis 39:5-12
Quote of the day: “He who would not eat forbidden fruit must stay away from the forbidden tree.”
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