Jeremiah 36:32
"Then took Jeremiah another roll, and gave it to Baruch the scribe, the son of Neriah; who wrote therein from the mouth of Jeremiah all the words of the book which Jehoiakim king of Judah had burned in the fire: and there were added besides unto them many like words."
Jeremiah had been shut up in prison for proclaiming truth about the future of Israel. While in prison, God told Jeremiah to write the words that He would speak against Israel and Judah. After writing these words, Jeremiah told Baruch, his secretary, to take the roll upon which the words were written and read it in the temple so the people could hear it. At the hearing of these words, the people proclaimed and fast, and a worker in the king's cabinet went back and told all the king's servants what he heard. They invited Baruch to come and read the words to them, at which time they requested he read these words to the king.
The interesting part about this story is that when the king heard the words, he cut the roll in half and threw it into the fire thinking that this would stop God's Word from coming to pass. He thought he could run from God's Word, but he never realized that this action would not stop God's Word from being written again. Though this king tried to destroy God's Word, God came back to Jeremiah and told him the words to write again. God was greater than this king, and His Words would be fulfilled no matter what this king did to silence them.
This story reminds me of several parents who have watched their children go wayward. Just like the king who cut the role upon which God's Words were written, many backslidden Christians have tried to run from their upbringing because they didn't like what God would have them do. What they don't realize is that you can run, but you can't hide from God's Word. Wherever that person goes, God's Word is still inscribed upon the banks of one's memory. They may try to silence the words with their worldly lifestyle, but they can't stop the silent voice of the Holy Spirit who lives inside them.
Christian, let this story encourage you that if you have taught someone God's Word, no matter what they do His Word will continue to work on their heart. It may be your child who is running from God, but if you taught them God's Word they will never be able to get away from It. It may be a person in whom you invested your life and they have gone the way of the world. Don't think that you wasted your time because God's Word will not return void. As much as they try to get away from the Christian lifestyle, they still can't hide from the influences of the Holy Spirit in their heart.
Furthermore, if you happen to be that one who is running, let me warn you that you will fail at whatever you try to do to get away from God's Word. Instead of running from God, yield to His voice. God's Word is always right, and you will never succeed at hiding from what God has told you to do.
This story is a wonderful reminder that no matter how much one may try to run from what God has told them to do, they will fail. Instead of running, yield to the reproof of the Holy Spirit. It is when you yield to what God wants you to do that you will find God's Word is no longer loathsome in your life.