The Runaway
Now flee from youthful lusts, and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. 2 Timothy 2:22 NASB
Flee – When to run, when to stand and fight? That’s a moral question most of us will face at one time or another. Paul instructs Timothy that in at least one case it is always better to run. The Greek verb is pheugo. It means “to seek safety by flight.” Get the H out of there! By the way, this isn’t a suggestion. It’s a command. Don’t stop to think about the alternative possibilities. Don’t rationalize, justify or reconsider. Just put the pedal to the metal and get out!
Paul isn’t always so adamant. There are plenty of times when he exhorts us to stand, to resist, to pray, to put on the armor. But not here. This is “run for your life” time. Why? Well, Paul is a good rabbi and as a good rabbi he knows what all good rabbis knew. The sexual compulsion is far more powerful than human beings can control. It is the closest thing to creation by divine fiat that we will ever experience. It is a raging fire of the creative process. Anyone who gets too close will get burned, even when it is explored entirely within God’s provision. Sexuality is life at its core. It is instinctual, like the instinct to survive. It has animal ferocity. One dare not take it lightly.
Of course, Paul doesn’t say, “Flee from your ‘ezer kenegdo or from your ba’al” (the second word is Hebrew for “lord,” “owner” and “husband”). He says to sprint away from neoterikas epithymias. Epithymia is a word that conveys the picture of explosive desire. This is like the intensity of an erupting volcano. It is the epitome of the yetzer ha’ra, desire excited to the point of uncontrollable arousal. But just in case you thought that the only thing you had to avoid was all-out insatiability, rabbi Paul would remind you that the yetzer ha’ra almost never exerts its muscle with a frontal attack. It first seduces, softly suggesting that what you desire is good for you, pleasant, rewarding, aesthetically beautiful (remember Havvah?). The power of the yetzer ha’ra is not brute force but rather subtle suggestion. It might even agree that God has His own view of the matter, but what will this tiny diversion really matter? After all, you are in control, right?
Every addict knows this game. And every addict knows you cannot win. It doesn’t matter if its sex or food or some other means by which we blunt our fears and anesthetize our anxieties. When the yetzer ha’ra dresses as an angel of light, find the exit as quickly as possible.
We might also notice that even though Paul describes these desires as particularly prominent in young men and women, they certainly do not have a monopoly on lust. Anyone can remain “young at heart” in the worst sense of the phrase. Adults run away. War is a young man’s game – and this battlefield is soaked in blood. It’s quite alright to be called a coward when it comes to epithymia. It’s good to be branded a runaway. This is the time to save your life. Looking back is a salty grave.
Topical Index: flee, pheugo, lust, epithymia, 2 Timothy 2:22
The one thing i can count on in life is the protection of my DIVINE HEAVENLY HUSBAND – MY BRIDEGROOM. i can depend on HIM to protect me from all the above & myself, especially being a single woman. i pray for HIS protection every day & HE is always faithful to provide it… ♥ jan
btw: that/this is a very sobering word/article for today & always – some people just don’t realize how you can be sucked in so easily – if it were even possible the elect… ♥ AND i do believe that people can be set free from sexual compulsions & addictions but it will be a lot of hard work & prayer & accountability on everyone’s part in their family & sphere of influence – what is not possible with man/men/women – IS POSSIBLE WITH GOD…
If we need an example of this “in the flesh” we need look no further than the “temptation of Joseph.” He was a hunky kid, one with a promising future. He seemed to have his head on straight and he found favor in the eyes of Potiphar.
But he also “found favor” in the eyes of Potiphar’s wife. She had it all except for one thing- her boy-toy Joseph. She wanted that there strapping, young, virile hunk o’ beef, and set about a plan to make this “thing” happen. She hatched a plot, and this dear friends is where “sin” occurred. Not when the ‘dirty deed’ (it’s called adultery, people) was done, but when she decided to venture outside of her covenant vows made with her husband, Potiphar.
So she puts “plan A” into action. And let us also recognize and remember, this “plan A” (adultery) is anti-Christ and very outside of the will of G-d (that which pleases Him). Is adultery (still) sin? – Let’s find and push together the “Easy Button,” – Say it with me.. “Yes, it is.” Clearly defined in high definition and HD resolution in G-d’s Book of Instructions Before Leaving Earth..- Is there any clearer command than “Thou shalt not?” -“Don’t play with fire little Johnny- you will get burned..” I hate to announce this, or put it this way.. but- (always did like those Bible “buts”) – “Father (you know Who I’m talkin’ about) really does know best.
No man (does this include any man?) Hello dummy- (sorry for the downgrade- but when in comes to sin- we are sheep..- excruciatingly stupid- our brain is one quarter the size of a walnut- not good..) is immune. We all need a Savior. (please notice the period at the end of the preceding sentence.) We need a Savior, a Deliver, a Shelter and a Hiding Place, and we need this prayer daily and even moment-by-moment,- “deliver us from evil.” – What is evil? – anything (anything) outside of the will of G-d. Uhh.. (I’m talking sheep talk- sheep say “uhh..” alot) Uhh.. is adultery wrong?
Shall we go for the jugular? Find the main vein and stick it to the man? Go directly to the (wicked, twisted) heart of the matter? Look through G-d’s Book- (all of it) and find one example (just one) where adultery is looked upon with favor. No, no (and no) G-d hates adultery. Plan “A.”
Joseph was looked upon with favor by G-d. He was given (this is grace in action folks..) wisdom by G-d and from G-d. He was a handsome hunk of flesh but far more wonderful, he “feared the LORD.” He feared G-d more than (and this “more than” is key)- His “desire” to please G-d was far greater (and this “far greater” is key) than his desire (good morning yetser hara’-how you doin’?) to please Joseph (hello Self..). Who is it going to be today Joe?- “self” or the Savior? .. Uhhh..
“Flee also youthful lusts which war against the soul”.. Fight or flight? We have a decision to make. A choice.
We are totally free in the choices we make. Maybe too free.. for I am, you are, free to be very stupid. Sin is stupid. Really, really dumb. (Ya stupid sheep!) – I’m not being very kind am I? -Am I speaking the truth is love? – Don’t hurt yourself- kid! Stop and think about this- please. Take the long look not the “what’s happening -gotta have it- I deserve this- really, really dumb- short version- “what’s in it for me?” No, no and no- what does G-d have to say about this? -and how many examples do we need?
King David? Bathsheba? -Do you know this story? Do you remember this? Did this really (really) occur or was this a “Greek” legend made up by a very creative mind? (things that make me want to talk like a pirate.. “Arghhh!” What was the consequence of David’s sin? – Happy campers? -(I’m going to scream…) -NOOOOOOOOOOO! -(sorry.. -but I do feel so much better..) Sin is stupid. Really, really dumb- (ya sheep!)
Get outta there Joe. Run Forrest! Feet, don’t fail me now. But don’t just run away from sin. (this is key!) Don’t just say “NO!” – (Nancy R. was half-right) – Say “Yes!” also. Say “no” to sin, but (there’s another but!) say “yes” to the Savior. Flee from sin and flee to the Shepherd. From/To. This is the “how to”. “Ever, (ever) looking unto Yeshua- the Author and Completer of our faith. “LORD,- save me” is a wonderful prayer- I need Your help.
Deliver us from doing that which is abominable to You. -“Amen.” “Cause me to remember that I am a part of Your Body while here on this earth, and also part of Your Bride in the ages yet to be.” As you have been a Faithful husband to me, let me also be faithful in my vows, both to You and to my beloved Beth, the ezer kenegdo, this gift You have graciously given unto me. Amein.
“those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.”
Hmmm
Sounds very Catholic to me, or Shakespearean: “get thee to a nunnery” (Hamlet)
My daughter is struggling emotionally for some reason (15), breaking out in rashes and out of school
It really distresses me emotionally, but at her age I was much worse
My instinct is not to tell her to run away from anything but evil people
My instinct is to tell her to that she is okay right where she is
She just needs to choose to learn to feel that way