NOVEMBER 14

FLEE THESE THINGS

“Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.” (Luke 21:36)

The Greek word for ‘escape’ is ‘ek-pheygo,’ meaning TO FLEE OUT OF. It is the same word that is used in I Timothy 6:11, “But thou, O man of God, flee (escape) these things…” Flee what things? The context gives quite a listing: strife of words, whereof cometh envy; strife, railings, evil surmisings, perverse disputings of men, supposing that gain is godliness, the love of money, etc. Then it says, “FLEE THESE THINGS,” escape out of the snare of these things.

II Tim. 2:22, “Flee also youthful lusts,” All of the over-desires of the flesh so prevalent in youth, for they must have this, and that, seeking to satify self. The driving passions of the flesh of youth which can seemingly only be subdued with the passing of time and many disciplines of life, until we realize how empty it all is, and our sense of values change. Is it possible to pass through the midst of all this, not touching that which would defile? YES! By the help of the grace of God, as our prayer rises to Him continually. He can keep us from lingering in the midst of temptation, and from being sidetracked into involvement with these things. Jesus, “In the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto Him that was able to save Him from (out of death, and was heard in that He feared (for His piety.)” (Heb. 5:7).

The Biblical thought of escape, or, to flee out of, does not hold within it the thought of ‘escapism’ in the sense of not having to face up to the test, but rather, to pass through it uncorrupted, and thus OVERCOMING IT. The Word of God does not teach ‘escapism’ whereby one avoids facing the testing, but that we pass through it without being corrupted by its negativity. We flee out of the corrupting influence, to follow after that which is pure and holy. God will enable His worthies to pass right through the midst of trouble and not be harmed.

Ray Prinzing

Sister Doris Prinzing
1130 Allumbaugh St. Apt 257
Boise, Id 83704-8700

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