THE TRAGEDY OF DEMAS’ DECLINE!

THE TRAGEDY OF DEMAS’ DECLINE!

Philemon 24

24 Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellowlabourers.

Col 4:14

14 Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas, greet you.

2 Tim 4:10

10 For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia.

Philemon was written earlier than Colossians and Second Timothy quite a while later. It is tragic to imagine the gradual decline of Demas whom Paul referred to as “my fellow laborer.” Demas was in grand company with John Mark and Luke. He labored with them with the same resources and the same zeal and, we might think, with the same results.

There is some evidence that Demas was from Thessalonica and joined Paul’s troupe there. As long as he was serving he was held aloft from the world. As long as he was serving he was safe. But it seems that he was an earthling in exile inwardly longing for the things that this world held. We can’t be certain of the things that drew him back. John Bunyan speculated that it was the desire for money and wealth, things that ministry in those days would not provide. Perhaps it was simply the allure of a lowered standard of living; weary with the pressure of expectations. Perhaps he was just tired of being good. Paul is silent, perhaps because of grief.

Years dragged by and Demas’ conflicted heart caused his fidelity to fade. Little by little you could see it. Perhaps Paul had tried to head it off with some wise counsel and prayer but Demas did not respond. I can imagine the sorrowful scene when Demas informs Paul that he was quitting the evangelistic team. He was going home and there was no staying him.

How can we avoid a fate like this? Is there a formula for success? Is there one devilish thing we should watch out for? Well, if you look carefully at Paul’s brief explanation you will see that Demas’ problems were internal. He was the problem. It was the focus of his love! “Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world!”    

James 1:27

27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

Dear Lord, I live in a world of great temptations and allurements but I am bound for a world where the half of its wonders has never been told. Help me to keep my heart rightly focused. AMEN