“Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts.”
2 Timothy 2:22 NLT
The command to “flee” is an unusual instruction for believers. In other Bible verses, we find commands such as “stand firm” and “resist,” words that call for courage and a fighting spirit. So what’s different about this verse? The apostle Paul is talking about the evil desires of youth.
Folks, here’s where things get tricky. We all face temptations our whole lives. That’s part of living in a sinful world. But the temptations of youth are especially dangerous.
Part of the problem is immaturity. Young people don’t have the life experience to understand why certain things are harmful or how they can lead to lifelong issues.
Another issue is that physical development can cause problems. When we’re young, our hormones are raging, our adrenaline is flowing and our judgment is sometimes clouded. Trying to battle evil desires with those disadvantages is a bad idea. It’s not a fair fight.
Whether you’re young or old and face temptations, the wise thing to do is run. Don’t give them a chance to become a problem. Rob them of their power. You’ll be glad you did.
The Scriptural Truth 