Running, But Which Way?

February 3, 2022February 4, 2022 By nancy.new1234 Doing What We Know We Must Do! / GOD of ETERNAL HOPE

Have we ever been running along and noticed we are “running” with the wrong crowd?

What about “running” toward the wrong career?

Could it be said that we are “running” blindly and not keeping our eyes on the path we have taken, but instead see where we WISH we could run, but knowing deep in our hearts that we are “running” the correct direction. The problem in this case is not the WHERE but the WHAT we are seeking as we “run.”

Yes, today, we find ourselves running.

Maybe we just feel that we are “running” in the proverbial rat race, day-after-day, the same race of unending fulfillment.

God has not changed His mind.

He still calls men, women, boys, and girls to turn to Him.

God still calls us to TURN, and when we do pause, turn, and see Jesus—It is then that we cannot help but “RUN” to Jesus.

This morning, a particular article caught my attention because it was written about a topic dear to my heart—students, particularly students who are seeking a college education. This particular article claimed that students are not seeking Jesus, not looking for Jesus, claiming—how can a person “look for Jesus” and not realize he is even seeking Him?

In Paul’s letter to those believers living in Rome, he was led by God to write—

“As it is written,
“THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE;
THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS,
THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD;
ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME USELESS;
THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD,
THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE.”
(Romans 3: 10-12)

Every single person needs Jesus. Everyone!

The young kids—they need Jesus.

The older youth—they need Jesus.

The university students—they need Jesus.

The young married—they need Jesus.

The parents—they need Jesus.

The ones walking within middle age—they need Jesus.

The retired—they need Jesus.

The elderly—they need Jesus.

The sick, the healthy, the educated, the uneducated, the happy, the sad, the mourners, the widows, the people of the world—they need Jesus.

But to receive Jesus—everyone must TURN toward Jesus to “run” toward Him, to receive the mercy and grace He offers.

We are running a life-race, but which way are we running?

Are we running toward what this world offers—OR—Are we running toward what Jesus offers?

To receive what we seek, we must TURN toward the other direction, LOOK, stop running away & begin slowly jogging toward WHO IS CALLING OUT TO US.

We must want it—That which we do not yet have.

We must seek—Who we see when we turn from our running away.

We must receive the conviction of God’s Holy Spirit, Who causes us to WANT TO TURN!

We must!

We must experience the gentle knocking of Jesus upon our heart—persistent & purposeful—seeking the one who is blindly “running” the wrong direction.

Truly, in this life, we must run, but it matters so much the direction we run!

In the Old Testament of God’s Word, the prophet Elijah finds himself caught in a battle, one where he is being chased by the queen’s soldiers. Elijah is scared and senses that his life is in danger. Queen Jezebel is angry, and she means to make Elijah pay with his life. So, Elijah “RUNS” off, out of the crowd and toward the secluded cave. It is there, while alone inside the cave that Elijah hears the Lord. See with me.

“Then he came there to a cave and lodged there; and behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and He said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
He said, “I have been very zealous for the LORD, the God of hosts; for the sons of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars and killed Your prophets with the sword. And I alone am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.”
So He said [God spoke directly to Elijah], “Go forth and stand on the mountain before the LORD.” And behold, the LORD was passing by!”
(1 Kings 19: 9-11)

A great wind.

An ominous earthquake.

A raging fire.

A gentle blowing of the wind.

In the still, gentle wind, Elijah heard Him—God.

“When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. And behold a voice came to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
Then he said, I have been very zealous for the LORD, the God of hosts; for the sons of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars and killed Your prophets with the sword. And I alone am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.”
The LORD said to him, “Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus, . . .
So he departed from there and found Elisha . . . .”
(1 Kings 19: 13-19)

In the stillness, in the silence, oftentimes God speaks directly to us, but if we are too busy, too caught up in the noise of the day, too consumed with this world, then how can we receive the gift of solitude and silence? How can we hear the “still, small voice” of the LORD?

How can we hear God if we only hear the pounding of our feet as we “run”?

Each of us are “running.”

Some are lost and “running” in the dark, “running” away from God.

Some have already been found, but they are “running” their own race and not seeking the will of God.

Some are found, already belong to God, have sought the forgiveness of Jesus, have surrendered their hearts to the conviction of the Holy Spirit, but now they have slowed down so much in the race toward heaven, “running” so slowly, that it’s hard to tell if they are even still “running” at all.