"Demas Has Forsaken me..."

Nahum · #1 12-31-2007, 06:39 PM

Be diligent to come to me quickly, for Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world, and has departed for Thessalonica...

-2 Timothy 4:10

Paul, the picture of faithfulness and devotion. Writing from a Roman prison a cryptic message to his son in the Gospel. "Come to me quickly..."

Alone.

Forsaken is the word he used.

I found this little quote interesting.

Quote:

Demas left Paul in prison in Rome. Clearly he did not leave with Paul's approval. Paul needed help. He was about to be executed and wanted to make his last days as profitable as possible for the cause of Christ. Demas could have helped him in his ministry. Instead, Demas took off for Thessalonica.

The word Paul chose to describe Demas's action is very strong. The word forsaken (Gk: enkateleipo) is the same word Jesus used on the cross when He cried out, "My God, My God, why have you forsaken Me?" (Matt 27:46; Mark 15:34). It is also the word used in Heb 13:5 where the Lord's promise, "I will never leave you nor forsake you," is recalled by the author of Hebrews.

To forsake anyone is a terrible thing. To forsake the apostle Paul when he was in prison and was facing execution for his faith was especially terrible.

What motivated Demas to do this? While Paul doesn't give us a specific answer, he does tell us the underlying problem. It is one that should challenge each of us deeply.

Demas's defection is in sharp contrast to Paul's fidelity. Demas loved the present world. Paul loved the world to come. In the three verses which preceded his comments concerning Demas, Paul spoke of his imminent death, of the Judgment Seat of Christ, and of the rewards which he now knew he would receive:

For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only, but to all who have loved His appearing

-2 Timothy 4:6-8
Against this backdrop the statement that Demas has loved the present world is especially sobering. Paul was living in light of the coming world. Paul loved the future world, the eternal kingdom of the King of kings and Lord of lords. Paul not only lived for the kingdom, he was about to die for it. He speaks of his approaching death like some might talk about their flight time: "The time of my departure is at hand." He knew that this life is but a vapor and that dying is but a departure.

What was it that drew Demas away? Was it fear that he too might be martyred if he stayed with Paul? Was it a desire to get away from the conditions in the prison? It could have been as simple as wanting a bed to sleep in and decent food to eat. In any case, Demas was more concerned with this present world than he was with the world to come.

Each day we are faced with many choices which involve deciding whether we love the present world or the world to come. Will you buy a smaller house than you can afford in order to give more to God's work? Do you care more about what your boss thinks than you do about what the Lord thinks? Would you cheat at work to get ahead? What gets your prime time: TV or prayer and Bible reading?

Someday, probably very soon, the Lord Jesus is coming again. Paul spoke of "that Day" when Jesus, "the righteous Judge," will judge us and give out rewards. That Day is the Judgment Seat of Christ when every Christian will be evaluated according to the deeds he or she has done as a Christian (Rom 14:10; 2 Cor 5:10).

May we be like the apostle Paul who fought the good fight, who finished the race, and who kept the faith. May we not be like Demas who started well, but who got off track because he loved the present world.
www.faithalone.org/news/y1995/95jan2.html - 6k

stmatthew · #2 12-31-2007, 08:27 PM

good thoughts.

Sam · #3 12-31-2007, 09:08 PM

Good words, Pastor Poster.

When you said,
"What gets your prime time: TV or prayer and Bible reading?"
I'm glad that you didn't include the word "computer" in there alongside TV
or you might be getting into meddling.

pelathais · #4 12-31-2007, 09:29 PM

Excellent post, PP.

It brings up an aspect about Demas that I've often wondered about. When Paul says, "having loved this present world..." we often think of worldly delights, pleasure and ease.

What Demas my have been doing was running away because he was afraid for his life! This puts a stark contrast between the blessings that so many of us enjoy today and the very real dilemmas that faced our brothers in the first century.

Barb · #5 12-31-2007, 10:49 PM

Good Word, PP...

Cindy · #6 12-31-2007, 10:59 PM

Amen!

TalkLady · #7 12-31-2007, 11:53 PM

I recall the Don Johnson song,

"Oh, Demas, why did you go?
Why did you leave - when God loves you so?
He let this world crowd him and finally one day,
Forsaking the Gospel, he turned and walked away."

Anyone old enough to remember that one?

#8 01-01-2008, 08:23 AM

Thanks for a solid and thought provoking post, PP.

I have often wondered, and actually done some study on it, what was in Thessalonica that enticed Demas... certainly there was a reason he chose to depart to this country specifically.

I also found the idea of a fear for his own life being his cause for departing to be interesting.

thanks again, PP

scotty · #9 01-01-2008, 08:56 AM

A lot of food for thought PP, thank you and God bless.

Michael Phelps · #10 01-01-2008, 09:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pastor Poster

Be diligent to come to me quickly, for Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world, and has departed for Thessalonica...

-2 Timothy 4:10

Paul, the picture of faithfulness and devotion. Writing from a Roman prison a cryptic message to his son in the Gospel. "Come to me quickly..."

Alone.

Forsaken is the word he used.

I found this little quote interesting.

Did you notice that Demas is mentioned only three times in the scripture?

Once, Paul said "Demas is my fellow laborer". Then he said "Demas is with me".

Then he said "Demas hath forsaken me".

Backsliding is a progression..........when you stop laboring, you can still be there, sitting on a pew, not reaching out anymore, not witnessing, not winning souls...........but, often the next step is "Demas hath forsaken me".

Just some thoughts from days gone by......