This counsel of this song is even more needed today…

“Run Away”

Strolling past temptation avenue,
You hear so many voices calling you;
Maybe you’ll step in and take a quick look around.
Try to walk through it,
And you’re gonna fall down.

[Chorus]
You’ve gotta run away,
Turn around and run the other way;
Don’t even look in the direction
of a thought you should not entertain.
You’ve gotta run away,
It’s a prison that is calling your name;
You just can’t win if you play,
So run away.

There comes a time when you must stand and fight,
When the darkness tries to overcome the light;
But sin that is dressed up in the color of gray,
Is only defeated
When we run away. [Chorus]

Don’t put yourself in that position
Where sin can make it’s proposition;
And if you find that you have fallen,
You gotta get up, get ready to run
Next time sin comes calling, calling. [Chorus] [1]

One of the greatest heroes of the Bible exemplified this resolve.

“Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance. And it came to pass after these things that his master’s wife [e]cast longing eyes on Joseph, and she said, “Lie with me.” But he refused and said to his master’s wife, “Look, my master does not know what is with me in the house, and he has committed all that he has to my hand. There is no one greater in this house than I, nor has he kept back anything from me but you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?”

So it was, as she spoke to Joseph day by day, that he did not heed her, to lie with her or to be with her. But it happened about this time, when Joseph went into the house to do his work, and none of the men of the house was inside, that she caught him by his garment, saying, “Lie with me.” But he left his garment in her hand, and fled and ran outside” (Genesis 39:6-12).

The New Testament says “amen” to running in the right direction. “Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart” (2 Timothy 2:22).

Granted, with the deployment of high speed internet and hand held devices, this has become more challenging, but support resources are available.[2]

The fruit of the Holy Spirit includes temperance (Gal. 5:22,23). As you run from darkness, run toward the light and God’s consolations.

Joseph was blessed for running away from adultery and so will we.

[After God’s Spirit gave Joseph the interpretation of Pharoah’s prophetic dream] Pharaoh took his signet ring off his hand and put it on Joseph’s hand; and he clothed him in garments of fine linen and put a gold chain around his neck. And he had him ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried out before him, “Bow the knee!” So he set him over all the land of Egypt. Pharaoh also said to Joseph, “I am Pharaoh, and without your consent no man may lift his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt.” … And he gave him as a wife Asenath…” (Gen. 41:42-45).

The apostle Paul counsels us, “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it” (1 Cor. 10:13)

Statistics and personal heartaches attest to the dangers of sexual immorality and porn addiction.[3] In this case, the shout of warning is relevant: “run for your life!”

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[1 ] “Run Away” is a track from Steven Curtis Chapman’s 1987 debut album, First Hand.

[2] See https://canopy.us/blog/best-porn-blocker/
https://wisephone.com/collections/frontpage/products/wisephone-ii

[3] https://fightthenewdrug.org/

JBW