Fleeing Toward

In 1 Timothy 6:11, Paul, looking back at everything from old wives tales, strange doctrines and poor financial choices, tells Tim to flee from such things. Flee! Run Away! Escape! These things will ensnare you, perhaps in such a way that you are unaware until it is too late. However, Paul does not just stop at the “don’ts.” He gives Tim goals. Flee toward! Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness.

“Pursue” is a challenging word. Most Christians seem to live with a laid-back approach to God, His Word, and His character. There are moments of discipline and seeking. Yet “pursuit” is not a word used to characterize our walk with God.

That word “pursuit,” calls to mind the image of a defensive back pursuing an opponent who, if allowed to score, gives the victory to those same opponents. Think of a police chase. “Pursuit” implies intensity, focus, fearlessness, single-mindedness.

It is this same focus and pursuit that God calls us to.

Aggressive Faith

1 Timothy 6:12 is another one of those powerful, convicting verses. It is one that paints a picture very different from the faith of most Western Christ-followers. Paul uses words that translate “fight” and “take hold.” The Greek word translated “fight” in the New American Standard Bible is “agonizomai.” It is from the same root where our word “agonize” comes from. It means “to struggle,” as in competing for a prize; “to contend with an adversary or to endeavor to accomplish something, fight, labor fervently, strive.” The Greek word translated “take hold of” is a mouth full: “epilambanomai.” It means “to seize for help, injury, attainment or any other purpose.”
These words contrast to the Western believer mindset of showing up at church once a week, month, or year, and then sitting back and waiting for God to “bless them.” [If I were God, I’d probably not bless, but body-slam. Good thing God is God, and I’m not.]
Think of a championship professional football game. Reckon the two teams will just “show up ‘cause they are s’posed to,” in the hope that they might win? No! They will hit that field and they will “fight, strive, contend, agonize, seize, and take hold of” with everything they have. And we’re talking about a football game.
Paul is speaking of eternity—yours and mine. Is it worth the effort? Hmm.