fathom blog

Flee…Pursue

 

 “Flee” – what a word…to run away, as from danger or pursuers; to take flight.

 

I don’t know that I have ever had to flee, in the actual sense of the word, in my life.  I maybe should have a couple times.  I got beat up in a fight once or twice…I wish I would have fled.

But other than that I have really never had to flee.  I really don’t have a good understanding of what it would be like to have to run away from something to SAVE MY LIFE.  Do you?

 

I really can’t imagine what it would be like to be in the woods and have a huge bear chasing me with teeth bared and claws out seeking to kill me.

I really can’t imagine what it would be like to be in the wilderness and have a lion springing out of tall grass to actually EAT ME. Can you?

 

This is a problem for us.  We do not understand the idea that our lives can ACTUALLY BE IN life or death situations.

We feel so SAFE.  We feel so secure.  We walk and live our lives with LITTLE CAUTION.  With little CONCERN.

 

Read just the first half of 1 Timothy 6:11.

After reading that I hope your mind asks you the question, “What is all this I should flee from?”

Go up to verse 3 and read back to 11.

So…what did you learn? What should you flee from? Write it down.

 

 Let me sum it up.  It’s that “those who seek to be rich fall into temptation which leads all people into RUIN and DESTRUCTION!

Rich here does not have to be just money.  It is a discontented heart that is continually SELF-SEEKING.  It is the heart that often says “me, mine, and I”. It focuses on, and is centered on, the things, pleasures, and hopes of this life and this world.

FLEE FROM THIS…YOUR LIFE IS IN GREAT DANGER.

 

Oh God right now examine MY heart.  Is this me?

 

Speak to my heart. Do I need to FLEE? Please show the danger.

 

Read 1 Timothy 6:11-12

 

Pursue…to follow in order to overtake, capture, kill, etc.; chase; to follow close upon; go with; attend; to strive to gain; to seek to attain or accomplish (an end, object, purpose, etc.); to strive to gain; to seek to attain or accomplish (an end, object, purpose, etc.); to proceed in accordance with (a method, plan, etc.); to carry on or continue (a course of action, a train of thought, an inquiry, studies, etc.); to practice (an occupation, pastime, etc.); to follow: They pursued the river to its source. I felt their eyes pursuing me. to continue; go on with (one’s course, a journey, etc.).

 

I may understand this word a little better than flee, but I still only understand it in part.  I have pursued education, love, and some other things, but not like my life depended on it.

I have sort of lived my life letting godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness come into my life as they will, but I have not PURSUED them hard.  I have not as a rule sought to “FOLLOW IN ORDER TO OVERTAKE”.

How ‘bout you?

 

In these verses the challenge is to take hold of the eternal life to which you were called!

How do you TAKE HOLD OF ETERNAL LIFE? Isn’t that coming when I die?

Write.

 

 Read Verses 13-16.

 

This ‘good confession’ Jesus made is in John 18:33-37.  Read it.

 

 Do you see what is happening?  Jesus is saying his Kingdom is not of this world…AND NEITHER ARE HIS PEOPLE.

What are you CALLED TO?

 

 You are not to focus on or be captivated by this world. You are CALLED to eternal life.  That means you are called to things eternal:  love, truth, holiness, God, others, service, faithfulness.

In pursuing these things you take hold of the Eternal Life to which you were called.

 

 Is eternal life worth the pursuit?  How much does it matter if you pursue these things now or not?  It does matter…WHY?

 

Write.