A Pause to Ponder God's Word
"Flee and Pursue"

There was a major fire that had broken out in the tire factory. People were frantically running out the doors fleeing the danger. One man, though, came running out the door and turned to run along the building. He ran to a valve on a huge pipe line that went into the factory. After turning the valve off, he briskly walked to a safe distance from the building. When ask why he took the risk to turn off this valve he told the interviewer that if he hadn't done so, no one would have been able to run fast enough or far enough to escape the explosion. The pipe line fed a gaseous chemical into the plant and had it not been turned off the fire would have caused this chemical to explode with such force that it could have taken out an entire city block. The man did not simply flee the danger, he ran with direction and purpose to save himself and others from it.

Many people try to handle the evil of the world like the people running from the fire. They attempt to outrun it. They know they should flee, but it is a frantic aimless run that ends up being futile. Telling children to "just say no" does not go far enough. It gives them no direction. Instructing people to "be responsible" in their behavior without defining what "responsible" is accomplishes nothing. The power of evil is too great and its ways too pervasive for us to outrun or handle responsibly. If history has taught us anything it has taught us that we are powerless to overcome evil by our own resources.

Paul instructed young Timothy to "flee the evil desires of youth." But it is important to note that Paul did not stop at this point. He went on to say, "and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace along with those who call upon the Lord out of a pure heart." (2 Timothy 2:22) This Scriptural mandate is for us as well as Timothy. Fleeing evil alone does not help. We must flee with direction and purpose. Like the man fleeing from the fire, we do not simply run from evil, we run from evil by pursuing righteousness, faith, love, and peace. Apart from the Holy Spirit's empowerment, this would be impossible. He instills the hunger and thirsting for the things of God, as well as the power to resist evil and pursue righteousness. Yet, must draw upon what He gives in order do the fleeing and pursuing.

This pursuing of righteousness is not to be done alone. The verse tells us to do so "along with those who call upon the Lord out of a pure heart." Scripture knows nothing of the privatized, isolated Christian living that is so prevalent today. The pursuit of righteousness is a corporate affair. To attempt to live isolated from the body of Christ is spiritually suicidal. There is strength, wisdom, and direction given through the body that is found no where else. Jesus designed His church this way. Alone I am vulnerable and susceptible to the attacks of satan in a way that I am not when I am actively participating in the body of Christ. This verse, as well as many others in Scripture, makes it clear that active participation in the body is not an option for the Christian.

Beloved, do not see how close you can get to sin without sinning. Rather, flee evil by pursuing "righteousness, faith, love, and peace along with those who call upon the Lord out of a pure heart" and see how close to can get to God.

Keep Close To Jesus
Pastor Gerry


A Pause To Ponder God's Word is written and distributed by Gerald Whetstone, Ordained Elder and teacher in the Church of the Nazarene. These devotionals may be transmitted, duplicated, used in part or in entirety without permission for nonprofit purposes only. Responses welcome. To Subscribe Click Here.
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