We cannot escape from SELF by running. If someone has a strong hold on you, and you run, you will simply drag the person with you as you run. It is wrong to seek refuge where we can live without encountering the difficulties our world imposes upon us. Jesus came to this world and met the problem of sin head on so that we could face the reality of our opposing natures. We must have a personal encounter with ourselves as we face God.
Pretense is our worst enemy.
Too often, who we are, and what we pretend to be are poles apart. This is not because we desire to live phony lives. It is because the world's way of thinking has captivated our minds and blinded us to our true self. We must recognize that the enemy is real. The world's arguments are designed to make you change the way you think about what you do rather than change what you do.