The Ballestero Blog

You Can’t Catch Me

I watched and laughed at my young grandson Cade as he ran around the living room telling his older brother, “You can’t catch me, you can’t catch me!” It was a laughable childish game.

What is there that is so exhilarating about the feeling of running and not being able to be caught?

Remember the story of The Gingerbread Man?

• I ran away from the little old lady
• I ran away from the little old man
• I ran away from the horse and the cow
• And I can run away from you I can, I can!

The “You Can’t Catch Me” feeling makes you feel superior to the one chasing you.

Bro. Ike Terry of Bakersfield, CA was talking to an older woman who didn’t want to be pastored. She said, “It takes a good dog to run this rabbit.” She was on the run and didn’t want to be caught.

I once read about a famous thief that played dominoes with the cops at the Police station every afternoon with the very men that were looking for him.

• This mindset requires
• You feel you are untouchable
• Uncatchable
• Above the law
• But he got caught

Eccl. 8:11 Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.

Jonah – ran, but God caught him.

• Jonah 1:3 But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD.
• He also paid the fare. (I will cost you to run from God.)
  

Achan – hid his sin but God caught him

Prodigal – turned himself back in

Backslider? What if the Father doesn’t chase you?

• The fun quickly goes away

David – covered it but God caught him. (Thou art the man!)

• The Hounds of Heaven chase you
• Be sure your sins will find you out.
• You sin will catch you. In time, in conscience, In Eternity
• Why are you running from God?
• Why are you running from His will?
• How long will you play childish games

God desires to use you in His kingdom, but your mindset of childish games, keeps you from seeing this and surrendering.

Can you recognize the signs you are running from God?

Can you recognize the signs you are running from the will of God?

From the time that my middle child, Martyn II was little, whenever he knew he was about to be corrected, he would run to me and throw his arms around me. There were a few time I wished he would have run away from me. Then I could have gotten upset and spanked him. But when a child is holding on to you and saying they are sorry and that they love you, you just can’t spank them.

If you are one of those that runs FROM God, turn around and run TO Him, wrap your arms around Him. He’ll be a loving Father. I know!