The Running Man
In a near-future society, The Running Man is the top-rated show on television—a deadly competition where contestants, known as Runners, must survive 30 days while being hunted by professional assassins, with every move broadcast to a bloodthirsty public and each day bringing a greater cash reward. Desperate to save his sick daughter, working-class Ben Richards (Glen Powell) is convinced by the show’s charming but ruthless producer, Dan Killian (Josh Brolin), to enter the game as a last resort. But Ben’s defiance, instincts, and grit turn him into an unexpected fan favorite—and a threat to the entire system. As ratings skyrocket, so does the danger, and Ben must outwit not just the Hunters, but a nation addicted to watching him fall.
This made me think of another Running Man in the Bible. He was the running prophet and his name is Jonah. Many of us are quite familiar with the story of Jonah. As a result, we may have been conditioned to look at Jonah as some kind of joke,a humorous book of the Old Testament that we shouldn’t take all that seriously. And so, for some of us, if we just happen to find ourselves traveling down the wrong road, maybe with a casual shrug we reflect back on Jonah and continue merrily on our way not taking God or His Will for our lives all that seriously.
The fact is, the story of Jonah is a scandalous story. It may not require a lot of time to read the story, but it takes a lifetime to live out its lessons. There’s a distinction we need to make an order to grasp and appreciate the full meaning of the book of Jonah. It is not a book about a great fish. It’s not a book about a vine. It’s not a book about a storm at sea or a near shipwreck. It is a book of God‘s dealing with a wayward man, so that he would obey Him and carry out this message to others in need.
Take some time to read the book of Jonah. It’s only 4 short chapters. To really understand what’s happening it would serve you well to take the time read the book. In chapter 1, Jonah was “ running away” from God. God called Jonah with an assignment to go to Nineveh and preach the need for repentance. But because Nineveh was a threat to Israel, Jonah did not want to not to see that happen Jonah boarded a ship headed in the opposite direction. He was being disobedient and “running from God.”
But God’s plan wasn’t to be stopped and He caused a great storm to occur to get Jonah’s attention. The ship was about to break apart and eventually Jonah was thrown overboard to save the ship and the crew. Jonah was swallowed by a great fish.
In chapter 2 we see that God now has Jonah’s attention in the belly of the fish. Jonah repents and now begins “running to God.”
Are you running toward God or are you running away from God? God loves you too much to let you go. Tomorrow as Paul Harvey used to say on the radio, the rest of the story.
“Come near to God and he will come near to you…”. James 4:8
Make it a Thoughtful Thursday! God is good…