“Many of us fled just with our suitcases, as the flood encircled our locality.” Flash floods and floods due to cloud bursts could wash away homes in a few seconds. People run to safety. What should they carry? Some documents, IDs, certificates, life-saving medicines, keys, smartphones…survival kits. In Pilgrim’s Progress, the main character Christian fearing the wrath of God hitting the City of Destruction, runs to reach the Celestial City, Mount Zion, where he can have eternal life with God and the Heavenly host.
Brood of vipers
“You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come.” (Matthew 3:17) John the Baptist had the audacity to call the religious leaders of Judaism a brood of vipers. They were poisonous and could devour, and bring spiritual death to people. They called themselves Law-keepers, and promoters of tradition but were corrupt, legalistic, and hypocrites. Like vipers, they were dangerous, deceitful, and deadly. In fact, they were representing Satan, the Father of lies in their religiosity. (John 8:44)
Spiritual discernment
Flash floods, cloud bursts, tsunamis, earthquakes, forest fires, terror attacks, civil wars…can happen suddenly. People would try to escape by running or driving cars. Few among the Pharisees and Sadducees had the spiritual discernment to understand that they were sinners, their religious practices could not save them, and God’s wrath could come upon them, hence repented, and came to John the Baptist to take baptism. John wondered how these people had such spiritual discernment. Spiritually, and mentally, these people resolved to run away from sin.
Flee from the context of sin
Joseph was a successful young man. Potiphar made him the head servant. Potiphar’s wife had an eye on Joseph. When she seduced him in private, he ran away to safety. Later Joseph was jailed without trial unjustly. (Genesis 39:12-18)
Final judgment
Wicked people would want to hide from the wrath of the Lamb so they would call upon the mountains and rocks to hide them. (Revelation 6:16) Now for them, the opportunity to run from sin was over, they cannot run away from judgment.
Do I flee from sin and take refuge in God?