So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. (II Timothy 2:22 ESV)
Fear Not… Then Flee
It was a cute little kitten. You know the kind. Soft fluffy furry face. An upturned mouth that smiled with affection, attraction, and apple-pie niceness.
But when I reached down to gently stroke its ears… it opened a terrible jaw, clamped onto my hand with fanglike needlish teeth, and imitated rusty vice grip pliars. To this day, I am not sure how I freed my wounded, pain-wracked, probably poisoned hand.
Young, cute, childlike things are not always safe, worthy, and desirable.
Paul warns young Timothy against living towards such things. Children’s tantrums can be cute… until they are not. Children’s begging can be cute… until it is not. Children’s selfishness can bring smiles… until they do not.
Living in what seems like foolish faith might not seem attractive to our society. But Paul claims it is better than childish arrogant self-trust. Choosing love might not seem powerful to our society. But Paul claims it is better than childish greedy self-concern. Resting in peace might not seem successful to our society. But Paul claims it is better than childish self-focused ambition.
Those things are worth fleeing, before they bite.
Fear not, then flee.