Harry Houdini, the famous escape artist, had a slogan that completely summed up who he believed he was… I only get into situations I can control and from which I can escape!

In studying the Book of Amos I was challenged by something that Lloyd Ogilvie said in his commentary with respect to Houdini’s mantra… Most of us have a Houdini in our souls; the escape artist who at times seeks to escape from God. The Houdini Christian is one who looks like he or she is locked into commitment to God but always has and escape route.

That was where Israel was when Amos came upon the scene to deliver God’s message. They were trying to escape from the covenant claim that God had on their nation and on each one individually. They were taking God’s blessings for granted and God had come to the end of His patience. Sadly, that is where a large part of the church in America is today.

The truth is, as Ogilvie points out, we are all escape artists when it comes to the Lord. While there are those in the world that have never met Jesus, there are also those that have met Him but yet they want to avoid completely surrendering their will to Him. And some have resisted getting to know Him on a personal level because of the fear of the cost associated with being faithful and obedient members of His bride and the responsibilities that go along with that commitment. And, tragically, there are those who have heard that call to a costly commitment and have been running from it ever since.

However, the good news is that God doesn’t give up on us that easily.

There was the famous boxer in the 30’s named Billy Conn (The Pittsburgh Kid) whose nickname was “The Runner” because he would never step in and attack his opponent, he would constantly back up and then land a punch when the opportunity presented itself. Well, he was due to fight the man who was probably the greatest boxer who ever lived; Joe E. Lewis. When Lewis was asked how he was going to beat Conn with his running technique, Lewis coined a phrase that hits the heart of the matter for Israel and the church… He can run, but he can’t hide.  And for 12 rounds he did just that, but in the 13th he couldn’t hide from Lewis’ knockout punch.

Sometimes we find ourselves in that position, we try and run from God but we ultimately discover that we can’t hide. It’s sort of like that hall of mirrors… everywhere we turn we see Him there waiting for us. Take a moment and read the first verses of Psalm 139… you will find it pretty well sums up the issue. Oh Lord, you have searched me and know me…

Amos gives us several examples of what we come up against when we try and hide from God. He describes God using the Lion or Bear to confront us, reminding us who we really are. And some of the places He often finds us hiding are “religion” or in following the gods of our personal success, materialism, or popularity. Sometimes even asking God to bless our efforts. But then in comes the Lion or the Bear and things begin to fall apart, one setback after another. That’s when it becomes painfully clear that thinking we had God in box from which we could escape was only an illusion. God never fits into our box because He wants to mold and shape our character into the image of His Son. He wants the righteousness that He has placed inside us (His righteousness) to become the light to a darkened world around us. And sometimes it takes that Lion or the Bear standing in our path to stop us from being “The Runner.” But what if there were no Lion or Bear, what if God didn’t care enough to pursue us when we run from Him? Scary thought!

Thank God that He doesn’t let us only get into situations that we can control and from which we can escape! Thank God that standing between us and the Lion and the Bear is a Lamb, the Lamb that was there all the time but we didn’t see Him because we were running. What an awesome God, the One who doesn’t let us run forever. The One who uses Lions and Bears and even a whale if He needs to because He knows that in the end… we can run but we can’t hide.