Let us run

Song of Solomon 1:4 Draw me after You; let us run.

Jesus told a parable about a sower. If you have walked with the Lord for any length of time, you are very familiar with it. He compared the message of the gospel to seed sown in various types of soil. Based on His interpretation to His disciples, most people don't end up bearing the sort of fruit that He intends for us to have in our lives. He explains several reasons for this. Spiritual warfare and lack of depth in those initial encounters with the truth are mentioned first. Then He gives the one that I most often battle with myself.

"As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful."

The cares of the world. It is so easy to get buried with the cares of the world. Life is so busy, and there is so much to deal with. We jump out of bed in the morning, run off to work, compete with co-workers for job security and that promotion we "need", compete with other companies for market share, and then fight the traffic to get home, inhale some dinner, rush off to a soccer game, or a band concert, or a board meeting, or a bowling league, or any of a million other things. If we do happen to stay home for the evening, we typically settle in front of the television, where we are bombarded by "entertainment" that glorifies sin about 95% of the time. In between segments the commercials tell us how unhappy and inadequate our lives are without a shiny new car, or a Caribbean cruise, or the newest drug to enhance sexual performance. So, when we sit down to "relax", we are still driven by the spirit of this world. We finally go to bed exhausted, and wake up the next morning a little tired, and climb back on the treadmill. This is no great profound insight. Thousands of books have been written over the past few decades on "the rat race", and how to get out of it. But most of us don't. Its not as easy as the books make it sound. This world system is addictive. I want out. I want to run after something deeper and better. I don't want to run after things that are destined to perish.

I want to run after Him. I want to live like the faithful of Hebrews 11. The writer describes the faithfulness of several; Noah, Abraham, and Sarah. And then he says this about them.

Hebrews 11:13-16
All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own. And indeed if they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them.

I want to run with Him. Its not a type of running that is driven. Its not running to avoid missing the bus. Its not running in fear of coming up short. Its running to get somewhere because you just cant wait for something to happen. You have seen it at the airport. He is pacing back and forth, looking at his watch every few minutes, and then staring out the window. When is that plane going to land? He walks down to check the departure/arrival schedule. Its still on time. The waiting is killing him. Then the plane lands, and still he has to wait. He scans the faces of the people coming up the ramp. Was she sitting in the very back seat? Did she miss her flight? What is taking so long? Then he sees her. And he starts to run. He cant help it. He just wants to feel her in his arms once again. He is running, and nothing will stop him until he reaches her.

Its like that. I want Him. I want His purposes. I want that life He created us for. I want to live in that "city" He has prepared for us. I don't want to settle for the "passing pleasures of sin". I want to run with Him.

I want to run with Him.