Running of the Bulls

Imagine. There you are standing on a crowded street in Spain. The weather is hot and the humidity is high. You are unable to move freely or even move at all. Then, it happens . . .

The crowd begins to press against you. The pressure increases and you are forced to move. Slowly at first, but there is a sense of panic because you are unable to do anything except follow the crowd. As you consider your situation, you realize the speed has increased. You are now moving along at a steady pace. Worry enters your mind. You see no way out. Then, it happens . . .

A wave of noise moves through the crowd. Screams and cheers mostly. Yet, to you it seems like a cry of desperation. Maybe it is just your desperation to find a way out of the crowd. You frantically look for any possible means of escape. There is none. You are a prisoner to the crowd. Then, it happens . . .

The crowd behind you begins to thin. Fewer and fewer people, but the few that remain are in a full sprint with fear in their eyes. And then you see it. Just one at first, but you begin to notice more large dark forms moving behind the crowd. There they are. The Bulls are right behind you.

Whatever desperation you felt before can not even begin to compare to the desperation you are experiencing at present. You frantically move from side to side looking for a means of escape. You are cautious to keep your step knowing that one slip and you will be trampled by the crowd. And you always keep one eye on the menace behind you -- the bulls. Then, it happens . . .

You see an opening in the crowd. You make a run for it. Through the crowd towards a short fence. You jump and grab the top of the fence. You pull with all your might. You have never been filled with so much strength. You throw yourself over the fence to safety. Then, it happens . . .

You cheer and yell. You have survived the Running of the Bulls. You are full of adrenaline and feel like the world is at your fingertips. And then, it happens . . .

You realize you are on TV. Your feat is being seen around the world. And people are looking at you and thinking, "What kind of idiot would do something like that?"

The fact is most of us do something like that everyday. We get caught up in the crowd. And we get chased by bulls that are far more frightening than any bull in Spain. The bulls that drive us by brute force are our feelings.

The world is governed by feelings. We are more concerned about how people feel than we are the truth. Our feelings can flat out lie to us, and we listen and obey them. They lead us to destruction, and we follow them to the end.

God never intended for us to be driven by our feelings. He created us to follow our minds. This is why Paul tells us, "And do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, . . ." (Romans 12:2)

The world has no greater desire than to throw you in the middle of a crowd and let the bulls loose on you. Our world works off of a mob mentality. The world says, "Just listen to your feelings. Do what they say. And worry about the consequences later." That is the path to destruction.

We are called to run a race. It begins with renewing our minds. To be led, not by our feelings, but by our minds.

We are called to run a race. Not by being driven through fear and desperation, but by setting our eyes on the goal. As Hebrews 12:1,2 says, "let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith."

Have you set your eyes on Jesus today? Today, renew your mind and run the race with endurance.