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Which Direction Are You Running?

Running has been part of my devotional life for some time now.   One of the big lessons that I am starting to learn, is that direction is more important than pace.  Yes, it’s still a bit hard for me to admit, but knowing where you are going, and why, is more important than how fast you get there. 

I say that I’m only starting to learn this because when it comes to running, I’ve always treated it like a race.  When I was a kid, one of the best days of the whole year was the elementary track meet.  This was followed by Junior High track.  Then in High School I added cross country. Eventually, I continued both sports into college.  Every Saturday (or perhaps Thursday) there was a meet, and every practice was preparation for the competition.  As an adult, even though I wasn’t typically entering very many running events, I still trained as if I had a race coming up.  My wife tried to point out my compulsion, and finally, it has started to sink in a little. I don’t have to treat every run – or every day – as if it were a race.  And, besides, no one else really cares how fast I run or how high I place!

When I think of spiritual running, I think of three alternatives: 1) Running away from the God the Father, 2) Running in Circles, and 3) Running to the Father.  Let’s look at some stories from the Bible that offer insight into each of these alternatives.

There’s probably no clearer example of someone running from God than the prophet Jonah.  Everyone of us remembers the guy who was swallowed by the great fish!  But let’s look briefly at this story from the Old Testament.  Read Jonah 1:1-3a;

He is literally running away from God.  Gets on a ship.  A big storm comes up.  The sailors note something is unusual about this storm and decide Jonah is to blame.  They want an explanation!  Read vv. 9-10

Note again Jonah’s response.  This is really scary to me.  His answer is so good.  He knew who he was and whom he (supposedly) served. Can you worship God and run from him at the same time?  The sailors note the truth and the power of his answer.  But apparently, this isn’t enough!  Jonah may be “right”, but his “rightness” doesn’t allow him to go and minister to a needy people who are different than him!  Do we do the same thing?  Maybe I don’t think I’m running from God, but am I so focused on being right about my faith and beliefs that I don’t really serve God or minister to other people?  Maybe I enjoy worshipping God, but don’t really want to follow Him, His example or message.  Ouch!  I’m not sure I like these thoughts!

We may not feel that we are running from God, but sometimes it may seem that we are not really going anywhere either.  We feel lost or it is as if we are running in circles.  Some of you know that last year I moved back to Olathe.  Shortly after we had moved, I went out for an early morning run before work.  It was dark and I was running in a neighborhood that I wasn’t totally familiar with.  The streets in that area wind and curve in multiple directions.  I had turned a corner and was headed home – less than two miles away.  Very quickly I started to hear the noise of traffic in the distance.  At first this confused me.  Traffic isn’t that heavy at that time of the morning unless it’s on the interstate.  And then it hit me; I was running west toward I-35, not east toward home, like I thought I was.  It was a fairly quick adjustment.  I had only gone a couple of blocks in the wrong direction and after I turned around, I soon ran into territory that I recognized. Remember, direction is more important than pace. In less than 15 minutes I was home.  Still, it got me thinking.  What life circumstances might get me confused or off track.  Could illness, disappointment, fear, family, career, etc., cause me to lose focus of my deeper goals and main purpose?  I know they can if I let them.

If we return to the original scripture that I read, the apostle Paul was encouraging the Corinthian church to be disciplined in the preparation and execution of their ministry.  He uses the example of athletes, including literal Olympic runners, to express the need for strict training in the work of the gospel.  Paul’s expressions that he does not “run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air” (I Corinth 9:26) show that it is possible to just go through the motions.  I know it’s possible to be really busy  but not actually accomplish much of lasting value. 

On a personal note, I have found that I can be very consumed with work.  In need to be careful that I don’t let that happen.  But, for me that’s a great thing about “working” at NBC.  Since I know that I’ll spend a lot of time on work, I want that work to have a greater purpose.  A kingdom purpose.

Of course, there’s a better alternative to Running Away or Running in Circles, and that’s running to the father.  Running “home” as it were.   This reminds me of my childhood.  Chrissy, Pauley, Melanie!

The classic biblical story of running home is, of course, that of the Prodigal Son.  I should point out that this story starts with running away, but eventually leads to the prodigal realizing he’s made a hasty, terrible mistake and thus he begins the journey home.  Back to his father’s house.  Back to where love, forgiveness, mercy, security and opportunity abound.  All the things the young man is longing for but lacking are found at home with the father.   

This, however, is where my analogy gets flipped on its’ head.  Do you think the Prodigal was “running” home? I’m not sure, but if it were me, I know I would NOT be running.  No, I think I’d be sneaking around to the back door.  In this actual setting that probably wasn’t possible.  I’m sure everything was far too exposed for the Prodigal to just quietly slip in.  And so it is that, as we’re told in Luke 15:20 “while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.”  Who’s running now?  The tables have been turned.  As fast as the Prodigal Son might have been running home, the father is even more determined and more passionate.  We’ve all heard it, but it’s true.  If we’ll take the first step, the Father will more than take care of the rest.

I want to take one final look at scripture and this one centers on the Gospel of John, Chapter 6.  Jesus is speaking to the crowd of people who were following him around and listening to his messages.  Throughout this rather lengthy discourse, Jesus issues some challenging statements.  When I look through this portion of my Bible, it’s mostly these statements that I have underlined.  Examples are: 6:29, 35, 44, 63.

Verses 60 & 66 tell us that the listeners described this as a “hard teaching”, and they questioned who could accept it.  From that time many turned back and no longer followed him.  Then Jesus asks the Twelve, “do you want to leave too”?  Simon Peter, never short on answers, this time delivers one of his best in verses 68-69.  “Lord, to whom shall we go?  You have the words of eternal life.  We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.” This isn’t the Prodigal; these are Jesus’ closest apprentices.  They are already with him, and yet the invitation, offered here as a question, is essentially the same, will you stay with me?  For today’s purposes, He might ask, will you run to me?  Do you believe who I am and that I do offer life; the life you desire, life eternal?

There’s a recent popular Christian song by Cochren & Company that parallels my thoughts.  It’s somewhat of a Prodigal song, and in my opinion, the 1st and 3rd verses are powerful.  However, it’s the second verse, perhaps the quiet verse if you will, that most gets my attention right now.  It goes like this:

 

No more running in circles trying to be good enough (I guess that’s another way Christians run in circles)

I’m far from perfect but I found perfect love, in the arms that won’t let go

Got a heart on fire, got the wind at my back (a good thing for runners)

Singing Hallelujah I am free at last

Every day I’m running home

Chorus:

He called my name, and he stole my shame

Everything changed when I came running home

 

So, set your GPS in the direction of the Father.   If you’re far off – run home.  If you’re close– run home.  Every day – run home.  And, I might add, if you’re running to the Father, it doesn't really matter how fast you go. 

- Mr. Scott Laird serves as Vice President of Finance for Nazarene Bible College