Run For Your Life!

For most of us, "Run for your life!" is a phrase applied to a playful game of getting away from the other team who is trying to catch us. Maybe it is a game of tag or football or trying to steal a base in baseball.

However, for others, "Run for your life!" has some very strong significance. This past year, in southern California, "Run for your life!" meant to leave your house because the forest fire was still out of control and your house was in the path and you were in danger of being burned to death. In the Midwest United States, there were some people who had to "Run for your life!" because their house was in danger of being flooded or in the path of a tornado.

In some parts of the world, "Run for your life!" means that there are people coming who want to kill you and you must flee and hide or you will be murdered! For those people, "Run for your life!" is not the result of a natural catastrophe, but the fear of being the victim of someone else's hatred!

There are several times when Jesus had to "Run for your life!" Today, I would like to look at one that is recorded in Matthew 2:13-18. Joseph and Mary had just been visited by the wise men that gave them some very wonderful and significant gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. That night, after the wise men had left, God tells Joseph in a dream to get Mary and baby Jesus and "Run for your life!"

Herod wants to kill the baby Jesus and the wise men were supposed to tell him where the baby could be found. However, God told the wise men to be wise and not tell Herod, so they went home by a different route to avoid Jerusalem. When Herod realizes that his lie, "I want to worship this baby who is a future king", has been exposed, he will go into a rage and kill every baby in Bethlehem up to two years of age!

Joseph and Mary don't have time to carefully box everything, call a moving van or rent a truck and load it. They don't even have time to hitch up a wagon and load their furniture in it. We don't know if they had a donkey to help carry some food, water and some of Joseph's tools or if they left with only the clothes on their backs and the gifts from the wise men. All we do know is that they left before morning and walked as fast as they could towards Egypt, some 155 miles away.

They traveled for days until they arrived in Egypt and were able to find a place to live. Meanwhile, Herod realized that the wise men weren't coming back and went on his rampage killing all of the babies in Bethlehem. Although there may have been only 20-30 babies that were killed, because Bethlehem was a small village, the horrible act cause great grief, lament and agony over a considerable area because of how ruthless Herod was.

There were other times when Jesus had to "Run for your life!" that we may look at in the future. This one is very significant because He was at the mercy of His parents being obedient to God.

In many places in the world today, there are those who believe it is their right, privilege, even obligation to murder Christians. Their religion, or lack of respect for God and Jesus Christ causes them to think that they are justified in this murderous behavior. Our prayer is that you will never have to face persecution from those who hate Christians and want to kill them. However, if it ever happens, we pray that you will have sufficient warning to "Run for your life!"

We also pray that you will be aware of those who are trying to take away your Christian freedoms and prohibit you from your beliefs as taught in the Bible. Some want to remove the guilt for their sexual immorality. Some simply want to stop Christians from trying to influence the world for Jesus. Some want to murder Christians and force their own religion on those who have chosen to follow Jesus. Either way, we must be wise to know when and how to stand for our faith and pray for those who might have to "Run for your life!"

God bless you as you are “Getting To Know Jesus”! Have a great day!