Running.

THE Holy Scriptures speak of running as expressive of intense earnestness and haste. We call our reader’s attention to five passages.
1. The haste of the Wicked. ― “Their feet run to evil” (Prov. 1:1616For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood. (Proverbs 1:16)). What sad haste is this! And what hundreds of our fellow-men are engaged in it! Turning their backs deliberately on God, trampling under foot His Word, deaf alike to entreaty and warning, their feet run to evil. The days are too short for their earnest pursuit of wickedness, and midnight finds them tossing the glass to their lips, without a thought of that cup of wrath of which they must drink, unless God save them. Sin after sin is committed with greediness, each awaking the desire for more. Step after step is hastily trodden in the pathways of pleasure, never heeding the finger-post placed by their side, “The end of these things is DEATH.” Haste! haste! haste! The devil leads the siren strain of exquisite sweetness, and his victims whirl in the mad dance of business, pleasure, or dissipation, till all is silenced in the solemn hush of death. And shortly the Great White Throne will be set up, and these will stand before it, hearing the Voice which they disregarded in life. They had no time to attend to it then, but now eternity is before them, and their haste is ended. Ended! but where? Alas, alas, in the lake of fire! The Voice which once sounded with accent of love in their ears, crying “Come,” now pronounces the word of awful doom, “Depart.” Oh, unsaved soul, see the end of running into evil, and stop thy passionate haste to hell. The rather do thou haste to flee from that coming wrath.
“Haste, haste, haste,
Delay not from wrath to flee;
Oh wherefore the moments in madness waste,
When Jesus is calling thee?”
2. The haste of the Moralist. ―Perhaps our reader exclaims, That is not my portrait at all; I am respectable, moral, and religious. Very good, we will present you with another picture. “There came one running, and kneeled to him [Jesus] and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?” (Mark 10:1717And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? (Mark 10:17).) We have before us now one who is no pleasure-seeker, but an earnest doer of all the things by which he hopes to attain life and happiness. He was of a lovely character, and could speak of having observed all the commandments from his youth. Yet his conscience was not at rest, and he came running to Jesus to know what more he must do. Was he so earnestly intent upon doing all that God would approve? What could delight His heart so much as having him accompanying His own Son in the condition of poverty which He had chosen that He might make poor man rich? This the Lord proposes to him. Alas, alas! his purpose of doing reaches not so far; there stands an idol betwixt his heart and Christ, and he turns away sad and grieved. The thoughts of his heart have been revealed. Christ is the test.
Let us trace afresh the lines of the picture, filling in details of a modern character. A young man grows up, knowing from his youth the commandments, and seeking to keep them. He is a church goer, regular communicant, and Sunday school teacher. He abhors wicked companionship, hates evil ways, and is seldom found in social circles of gaiety. Religion is his choice, and he pursues it with diligent earnestness. He is scorned as an ascetic by his friends, but he heeds it not. Yet his conscience is not at perfect rest. His prayers have never been left unsaid, but as his zeal increases he adds to their number. Early services are never held in his place of worship without his attendance. Often as he hears of fresh institutions in consonance with his religious views, he hastens forward to be a first member. What a devoted, zealous, earnest man! But does Christ fill his heart, or legal doings? Ah, it is the latter. So, the more he hastes, the sadder grows his countenance and the more grieved his heart; and if he thus continues, deepest gloom will rest upon his death-bed, and the blackness of darkness forever will be his awful portion.
Dear religionist, look to Christ and you shall be lightened, and your face shall not be ashamed. As a poor sinner come to Him, to be boundlessly enriched with heavenly treasure, and your joy shall be to follow Him. But if you turn away from Him, hugging your idol to your breast, sad will be your countenance and grieved your heart, and, despite all your earnest endeavors, eternal misery will be your portion.
3. The haste of the Seeker. — “He sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature. And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycamore tree.... And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully” (Luke 19:1-101And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. 2And, behold, there was a man named Zaccheus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich. 3And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature. 4And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way. 5And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zaccheus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house. 6And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully. 7And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner. 8And Zaccheus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold. 9And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham. 10For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. (Luke 19:1‑10)). Another runner engages our attention. This is Zaccheus, the little, rich publican. “Whither away, Zaccheus? Why such haste?” “I seek to see Jesus who He is.” And he runs on, and climbs the tree, not allowing any obstacle to come between himself and his object. Happy man! you shall surely gain your purpose, for Jesus has come to seek and save the lost. Jesus calls him, “Make haste, and come down.” Again the earnestness of the little man is displayed, he makes haste, comes down, and receives Him joyfully, with Him receiving the assurance of salvation.
Dear soul, are you “seeking for Jesus”? The seeking sinner will surely be found by the seeking Saviour. In the earnestness of your soul you will permit no obstacle to stand in your way. You attend preachings, read tracts, you pray earnestly; anything to catch a glimpse of Jesus; from this purpose of your heart you will not be dissuaded. One thing more. See how quickly Zaccheus descended from his perch at the call of Jesus. Lose sight of your reading and praying, which you cling to as meritorious, and let Jesus Himself fill your soul. He is the living Saviour, once crucified for our many sins. Receive Him into your heart by faith; believe on His name. Oh, make haste to fall in spirit at His feet, abandoning every thought of yourself and your doings, and confess Him your Saviour, your Lord, and your all!
The Word of God says not, “Believe in the preachings;” nor, “Believe in your reading,” nor yet, “Believe in your prayers and your own endeavors.” But what saith it? ― “Believe on THE LORD JESUS CHRIST,” the Seeker of the lost, the Crucified for sinners, the Victor raised from death, the Crowned One at God’s right hand, the seated, glorified Saviour; believe on Him of whom you read, the One who is preached to you; believe on Him, “AND THOU SHALT BE SAVED.” He has brought salvation to the lost, and we accept it, ceasing from our own works.
4. The haste of Love. ― “But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him” (Luke 15:11-3211And he said, A certain man had two sons: 12And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. 13And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. 14And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. 15And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. 17And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 18I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, 19And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. 20And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. 21And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. 22But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: 23And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: 24For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry. 25Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant. 27And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound. 28And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and entreated him. 29And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends: 30But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf. 31And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. 32It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found. (Luke 15:11‑32)). Dwell now with us upon this wondrous picture of God’s infinite love. It is His haste depicted here. Is it haste to drive the sinner away from His presence, and consign him to eternal destruction? No wonder had it been so; for consider the wretched ways of this man who has arisen and come to his Father. All he possessed he received from his Father, but in willfulness put the greatest distance between that Father and himself, and there abandoned himself to every excess, seeking happiness without restraint. This is the picture of man. Alas, the pursuit of happiness ends in perfect misery. He does his best to mend his condition, but all in vain. As a last resource he determines to return to his Father.
He arises and comes, and his Father sees him a great way off, and bastes. Is it to upbraid him with his wantonness and willfulness? to curse him, and drive him away? Who would wonder if this were his errand? Who could complain? But see! wonder of wonders! He falls on his neck and covers him with kisses. Ah! all His haste was to blot out every inch of the distance which the wicked son had placed between them. His was the eagerness of love which could bear no delay; the space between itself and its object must be obliterated quickly and forever. HE RAN! Oh, how it speaks to our hearts of the eagerness of God’s love to receive and welcome the returning sinner.
Dear reader, can you trust that heart of infinite love? Love, that led Him to put His own Son in the place of distance, making Him sin for us! Love, that can never rest without its objects perfectly near to itself! Love, that hastes to bring them near, brooking no delay; fits them perfectly for being near, and retains them near forever! Confession is made by the prodigal,—but when held fast in the embrace of that love!-and calls forth the expression of the fitness for the Father’s house which He Himself brings about. The best robe from the house is fitted for the house; shoes and ring; the fatted calf for the feast; and endless joy and divine merriment fill out the marvelous picture. Reader, such is God’s love-its eagerness, and its perfect, blessed, eternal provision for our need.
Fellow-Christian, a word with you ere we part. You know that the brightness and glory of the Father’s house is yours. Even now, by faith, you taste its joys; but at present you are a pilgrim in a foreign land. Suffer the word of exhortation. Are you as a little child dallying with every flower you see by the wayside? Do you spend your time in vain trifles, or are you carrying along with you as much of this world’s substance as you can command? Are you suffering yourself to be entangled in sinful ways? Do not evade our questions by saying, Why so bold? Shall the wicked run to evil, shall the moralists be in earnest, shall anxious ones use their utmost endeavors in their search, shall our God Himself display His blessed eagerness of love, and thou alone be a trifler? Surely not. Tuck up thy skirts, gird up thy loins, fling aside all that would weigh thee down to earth. Shim every entanglement, and run, run, RUN! Grow not weary, think not of the past steps, regard not difficulties, but with patience RUN! Look not this way nor that, take no mere man as thy model in this race, let not thine eyes roam idly abroad, but looking of unto JESUS, the author and finisher of faith, RUN!
J. R.