Fight or Flight

1 Timothy 6:11-12 ~ "But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses."

It has been said that there are two general responses that people will experience in a dangerous situation: fight or flight. That is, the basic reaction will be to either rise up to face the danger, fighting to overcome the particular peril, or to run from the danger and flee as far away in order to rescue yourself. 

First responders such as the police, fire departments and military are trained to overcome the flight response, for their work will invariably put their lives in jeopardy. Often citizens are encouraged to not engage in dangerous situations for fear that, without the necessary training, they will be overwhelmed and suffer great harm. Very rarely will a sane person put themselves in danger except that the danger is their only or best option. 

So, what about the greatest threat that endangers the soul? What about sin? First, it has to be seen as a danger. For most people in the world, sin is a mild irritation of the conscience that can be overlooked. But believers in Christ know that it is the greatest danger that will ultimately destroy the soul if not confronted and abandoned. James 1:15 warns about the danger of sin, "Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death." Even at the beginning, when God spoke to Cain, He gave warning about sin--a warning that all people ought to heed: "If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is contrary to you, but you must rule over it" (Genesis 4:7). 

In our text today, Paul gives both responses as an appropriate action for the Christian.

The first is the "flight" response. In the first part of our text today we read is this: "But as for you, O man of God, flee these things." What are "these things?" In the context of today's verse, it is the love of money. Paul writes in the verse just before our text, "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs" (1 Corinthians 6:10).  In essence, it is the greed of a man's heart that corrupts the pursuits of his life. In whatever way that greed takes form, it will leave a trail of compromise indicative of a person wandering from the faith. And here we are, commanded to flee these things. In the latter part of 2 Timothy 2:19 we read, "Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity."

Then there is the "fight" response. In the second portion of our text today we are commanded, "Fight the good fight of the faith." The dangers are real, and it requires the Christian to stand and fight for that which is of the faith. When compromise comes into view and the question is raised whether to walk in faith or to stray into sin, let the believer in Christ fight against the draw to sin and engage in the battle for righteousness. We must "fight the good fight." It is not a battle against a person, but against the flood of wickedness that surrounds us and the fleshly desires that war against our own soul (see 1 Peter 2:11). 

So, dear ones, what is your response when the dangers of sin rise up and come against you? Do you see sin as a danger? If so, then your response is both "flight" and "fight" as you contend to walk in righteousness. You flee the temptation and you fight to walk in obedient faith.

In His Grace,
Pastor Michael

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