"Time to Run?"

 

“Time to Run?”

 

When I worked as a hospice chaplain in South Carolina I was the only male on the patient care team. So one of my duties became getting rid of the millipedes which occasionally found their way into our office. I told my colleagues that I’d take care of these intruders but if a snake showed up I was the first one out the door! (This was my time to run.) Thankfully it never happened.

The New Testament tells us to run at least four times, all introduced by “flee”:

*”Flee from sexual immorality.” (1 Corinthians 6:18) because of the devastating effects it can have on us and those around us (“We should not commit sexual immorality, as some {Israelites} did, and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died.”—1 Corinthians 10:8).

*”…Flee from idolatry.” (1 Corinthians 10:14) since God tells us not to worship or bow down to false gods (“You shall not bow down to {idols} or worship them….”—Exodus 20:5).

*”Flee the evil desires of youth….” (2 Timothy 2:22) because they can impact us throughout our entire lives (“The youthful vigor that fills {one’s} bones will lie with him in the dust.”--Job 20:11). (Maybe you’re still bound by some of them in your later years.)

*”…Flee from all this (i.e. false teaching about what leads to contentment)….” (1 Timothy 6:11) brought about by overemphasis on material things (“…The love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.”—1 Timothy 6:10).

In 1973 the Billy Graham Association released “Time to Run” through its film distributor, World Wide Pictures. It tells the story of a rebellious young man who vandalizes a nuclear plant and runs away but through God-directed circumstances and encounters comes to faith in Christ. The movie was shown free of charge in various venues and was used to bring many young people (and not so young) into a relationship with Jesus.

Could it be that you’ve been alienated from your family, responsibilities or God (maybe all three)? If so, is it your “time to run” back because none of the things God says to flee from have brought purpose to your life? Jesus said, “…Whoever comes to me I will never drive away.” (John 6:37, emphasis added). That’s His promise and “The One who called you is completely dependable. If he said it, he’ll do it.” (1 Thessalonians 5:24, TM, emphasis added). Trust Him to keep His word.

 

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan