Living Life on The Run

Many summers ago, our family was vacationing at a family camp in the Colorado mountains. It was late evening, and my kids wanted to get into the recreation room to play some games before bed. There was only one catch, the room was locked. Not to be deterred, I found the keys and headed out to the cool night air to unlock the room for them.

As I stepped down from the porch, I found myself face-to-face with a massive brown bear. We were maybe five feet apart, both equally startled (I am sure I was far worse). In that moment, I didn't think; I just ran. I jumped back onto the porch as fast as I could, ran back inside, and informed the kids that the recreation room would not be open until the morning. I was not about to go back out there and experience another bear encounter.

Once the coast was clear, we could all laugh about it, but in that moment, I did the only thing I knew to do . . . flee!

Some things you're supposed to run from.

The Wisdom of Running

Our culture celebrates standing your ground and never backing down. And there's a place for that. But Scripture is equally clear that there are times when the wisest thing you can do in life is run. As I have been studying the Scriptures lately, I am struck by all of the various places we are instructed to run or to flee, including:

• In 1 Corinthians 6:18, Paul commands, "Flee from sexual immorality." Not resist it. Not manage it. Flee. Run.

• In 2 Timothy 2:22, he tells young Timothy, "Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace." Notice the contrast of what we should flee from and what we should pursue.

• In Proverbs 4:14-15, we read, "Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evildoers. Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn from it and go on your way."

Just like I knew that bear could kill me, God knows what will kill our joy, our peace, and our relationship with Him, and in His wisdom and love for us, He gives us this clear directive.

Running Toward Something Better

When I ran from that bear, I wasn't running because I was weak. I was running because I was scared, and I valued my life more than proving how brave I could be.

God's commands to flee aren't about control; they're about protection. Sexual immorality destroys marriages. Bad company corrupts our character. The love of money pierces us with grief and invites greed. The wicked path leads to death.

These commands are love. They are from A father protecting his children from danger.

But here's what's crucial, we're not just running from something, we're running toward something better. Every "flee" command in Scripture is paired with a "pursue" command. Flee sexual immorality; instead, pursue righteousness. Flee youthful lusts; instead, pursue faith, love, and peace.

We're not meant to live a life defined by avoidance. We're meant to live a life so full of pursuing God that the things we're fleeing naturally fall away because they no longer have room or a desire for them.

When I ran from that bear, I wasn't just running away from danger; I was running toward safety, toward my family, toward life.

That's what God offers us!

Are You Running?

What do you need to run from today?

Is there a relationship? A habit slowly destroying you? A path you know is wicked, but you've convinced yourself you can manage?

Don't walk down that path thinking you're strong enough. Don't stand there testing your resolve. And don't sit down and get comfortable.

RUN!!

Not because you're weak, but because you're wise. Not because God wants to limit you, but because He wants to protect you and lead you into the abundant life He's promised.

Some things are worth standing your ground for. But some things, the things that will destroy what God is building in you, are worth running from as fast as you can.

Running the Race with you,

Carlos

This edition was first published in The Life Design Newsletter on LinkedIn.