Tuesday, September 6, 2016
When training for a very highly publicized 15 round championship fight in 1941 against the light heavyweight champion at the time, Billy Conn, Joe Louis was informed that Conn, being the more nimble of the two, had stated that he would employ a hit and run strategy against the heavyweight champ. Louis replied: “he can run, but he can’t hide.” That quote became popular and is used often even today. Conn’s strategy almost worked and he avoided the champ’s punches for most of the fight, leading easily on the scorecards for 12 rounds. Thinking he had the champ in trouble, he came in closer believing he was the one who would win by a knockout. Big mistake! Louis knocked him out right before the bell ended the 13th round. In the end, Louis was right and Conn was not able to hide.
While it is possible that in this life we can run and hide from others, no one can run and hide from God. In fact, every time I hear someone employ the phrase, my first thought is not about Joe Louis but about the Lord. Perhaps the clearest example of this eternal truth is the biblical story of Jonah. He thought he could ignore the calling of God upon his life by running and hiding. If anyone should have known the writings of King David before him, it was Jonah. He should have known David had written about God’s omnipresence. One particular place is Psalm 139:7-8, which reads: “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.”
The real reason, however, that I was led to write on this topic is that lately, the Lord has brought to my mind several dear people in my life whom I am convinced have a definite calling of God upon their lives. Besides me, I am sure this deeply troubles anybody who has a family member or loved one who, generally speaking, is running away from God. In fact, perhaps the Lord led me to write about this today because one of you is doing that very same thing. You may or may not yet be aware that He is speaking to your heart about it but whether you are or not, this one thing I can tell you: If you know the Lord has a definite calling on your life,……...you can run, but you can’t hide. If that is you, surrender! You can’t win.
God’s promise for Today: (Psalm 34:15) “The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and His ears are open unto their cry.”
