In our society, we often view running away as a cowardly act. In God’s kingdom, fleeing is actually the most masculine thing to do. To flee is not a cowardly act; the Bible encourages us to flee. However where you flee to determines your character.
Several times we are advised to flee. 1 Corinthians 6:8 tells us to flee fornication and any sin of the body. Chapter 10 and verse 14 of the same book says to flee idolatry. 1 Timothy 6 tells us to flee from false teaching and the love of money. 2 Timothy 2:22 paints a broader stroke and says to flee all youthful lusts.
From those few things, you could easily come up with a very long list of things to flee from. The problem is it almost goes against our Christian nature that we are to stand up and defeat the devil. David faced his giant. Solomon faced his enemy and single–handedly destroyed 1,000 men with the jawbone of a donkey. We quote 1 John 4:4, “Greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world”, with the thought of fighting against our own issues. We are not fighting against flesh and blood. We are in a spiritual battle and in spiritual battle there are things you are way better off running from than fighting.
However, the real key, is not what you are fleeing from but fleeing to. 1 Timothy 6:11 says, “Flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.” It is not enough to simply flee from our temptations, but we must flee to God and follow him in righteousness, godliness and more. Ultimately, when we submit ourselves to God and run to Him, we know that in turn we can resist the devil and he must flee. Be a real man/woman and flee evil.