הוי רץ למצוה…ובורח מן העבירה (אבות ד:ב)

Reb Chaim Volozitzer zt’l said, הוי רץ למצוה – The actual running to do a mitzvah is considered as a mitzvah, and the reward for running to perform a mitzvah is that you will merit fulfilling the mitzvah. But if you won’t run to do the mitzvah, then the Yetzer Hara has an opportunity to reign over you and keep you back from doing the mitzvah.  The same applies when running away from an aveirah. The act of running away is considered a mitzvah. And in the merit of the mitzvah of running away from an aveirah, you will be protected from doing the averiah.