HUNTED
There is a popular story that has been a movie, a series in the past, and is making its come back now. It is called, "The Fugitive." We all know the story about the doctor who was falsely accused of his wife's murder. The entire story evolves around, and is about, his life on the run. The drama and tension portrayed as he repeatedly gets within arms length of the truth, only to have his hopes dashed against the jagged rocks, is immense.
But, the focus of this page is another kind of fugitive. It is the sinner who has not been redeemed or forgiven of many or one particular sin in their life. Or, I might clarify that he has removed himself from the fellowship of redemption by refusing to deal with prevailing sin in his life. Or, has distanced himself, i.e. taking himself away from the fellowship of that redemption. Although, he has been saved and is eternally in God's hand and bosom, he is not as close as he might be if he were to face his sin. His life on the run does not take him over vast lands, though in some cases it has, and might. No, his life on the run involves a state of mind and soul. Denial, deceit, lies or all three, and more.
A child at a very young age finds out quickly, that he or she can change the outcome of a situation with his words. Mom or Dad will ask Johnny if he ate all the candy in the cupboard. Johnny surmises all by himself that if he says no, then no trouble will come to him. This is normal. It is the result of mankind's falleness, of which we needed a Saviour's redemption..
But looking at this as it relates to God's children, it takes on a much more significant form. It puts me in mind of the dragon that is described in "The Oath" by Frank Peretti. Without going into a complete explanation of this story, we find a small town tangled in cover ups, murder and mayhem. The dragon represents the blackness of sin, and those of the town who do not repent are eventually lulled into a trans and drawn like sheep to the slaughter, and are eaten up by this dragon. The dragon is described as something that has grown very large through the years and cannot be seen by the naked eye. It is seen in peripheral, or as a shadowy form blending in to the countryside. You don't really know for sure if you see anything at all. And, we know it is nearly impossible to fight something we cannot see. But this is a wonderfully, uncanny picture of sin.
We remove ourselves from the fellowship of this redemption when we; Do not face the sin in our lives.
Willfully choose to sin, and take all necessary means to hide or justify that sin. Or when we become dull to the seriousness of the sin.
All of these actions, whether alone or combined, will result in the removal of our being from the inner circle, or from that fellowship with God. We then place ourselves in a barren land where we will be hunted, both by our God and Satan. Satan will hunt you because you have made yourself vulnerable. God will hunt you to bring you back to the safety of the fold. Neither is pleasant.
In II Samuel 11 &12 we read about David. He lusted after another man's wife and plotted to send this man to the front line where he would be killed. When approached about this by his messenger, David justified and covered it up in 11:25 by saying " Tell Joab that the sword devours one as well as another. Then he tells the messenger to console Joab." Once the wife's period of mourning was over, David sent for her and took her as his wife. In Chapter 12, we see a child born of this union, whom the Lord calls home to Glory as an infant, as the result of David's sin. This is not to say that all children who die are the result of parental sin, but in this case it was. We further see that David repented, putting himself back into fellowship with God, and made things right wit his wife.
David plotted in such a way that he would get what he wanted. Due to his power and position in God's kingdom, I suspect he talked himself into believing this would be ok. And isn't that what we all do when we fall? Our sin may or may not be as great as this, but the resulting isolation from fellowship and communion with God is the same.
The land that holds a fugitive is very deceptive. It can make you believe you are hidden when you are not. Part of the blackness of sin is the deception it plays on the innocent. Those around you will suffer in some way as the result of YOUR sin. The sun is scorching by day and the nights are cold. All these elements dull your senses and you see things that are not there, and believe things that are not so. The horizon never gets any closer as you wander aimlessly. You begin to feel like you are forever on the outside looking in...and you are.
What is the remedy?
REPENTANCE! Go to God! Go to the one you offended and confess and repent to them....
But one thing you must remember, when you are truly repentant, you don't do it again. How many people have found themselves saying to a loved one, " Sorry doesn't mean anything because you just keep doing it?" {whatever IT is} Parents say it to children, a spouse to the other, friend to friend, etc. And certainly, the God who knows our true heart must grieve when we give him "lip service," but not true repentance.
Jer. 8:5
Why have these people of Jerusalem {the chosen people} been slidden back by perpetual backsliding? They hold fast deceit, they refuse to return.
Where are you today? Are you living life on the run? Do you need to come in from the desert, the scorching sun and the cold nights? Do you desire God to make your heart pure? Do you yearn for the peaceful slumber of a clear conscience?
Matthew 11:28
Come unto me all ye that are heavy laddened, and I will give you rest..
Hosea 14:4
I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely, for my anger is turned away from him.
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