Demas transformed his honorable title into a name of shame

From: May 1-7, 2007 Study: # 490

TOPIC: “Demas transformed his honorable title into a name of shame” 2 Timothy 4:10 "Demas returned to the world”, Paul said this with sadness because Demas was foolish putting his heart in the things of this world. Demas left, this is characteristic of a traitor. Instead of being a compassionate man he became a fool for not loving God. James 4:13, 15 We sometimes think that we are so great and that we can do whatever we want. What is life? Sometimes we think that God is so good that He places us in this world and because we like God’s glory we end up acting as arrogant people. One day we’re here and the next we cease to exist. We’re like the flower in the field that exists today and tomorrow it is gone; we like the fog that disappears. We must take care of our life, and take care of our relationship with God. We sometimes wear out and we walk away from God. If we put our whole life in prayer we would begin to move according to God’s voice. Sometimes our love for the Lord begins to wear out, it is a slow process, and little by little the life of God begins to die inside of us. The rule of our life should be that the more we seek the Lord the more He will make himself present. Things are not as we plan them but as it is known to us based on the Scriptures. The Word has advice for everything we need in our lives. We sometimes forget how much we are attached to this world. Being faithful to the Lord is not easy, but to become attached to this world is easy. This world involves us with its charms. We sometimes make decisions for ourselves that later will lead us to pay the consequences for a lifetime. We have to be careful with the decisions that we make because these will bring consequences for a lifetime and then we will end up walking away from God and loving the things of this world just as Demas did. Colossians 4:14 Demas was not just another disciple, but a partner, Paul’s collaborator. Luke the beloved doctor gave up a lucrative career to help Paul in his sting for love, for passion, because he understood that Paul was the apostle and he wasn’t interested in what he could obtain from this world. Luke wasn’t just another disciple. In Timothy’s Epistle we can see that Luke continues being a beloved man. Paul was already about to be sacrificed. Luke contributed in Paul's life with love. Nowadays we live so full, with so much that it is very difficult to jump to the place where Paul was, scarce in everything, and with so many needs. Luke knew that Paul’s days were numbered and Demas knew it also but it all depends on our attitude. What are we so fond of, what do we focus on, what is important for us? Men always tend to go above everything and always struggle to be on the top. Luke made a decision to live in a lower level, in service. He understood that he was called to be Paul's doctor. Paul's heart courageously felt for Luke. Paul never said another word about Demas. He didn’t have a title of appreciation on Paul’s behalf. Luke had probably served Paul physically and spiritually while in jail. It would be good for us to find a Luke and not a Demas in our difficult moments. Luke decided to walk at every moment with Paul while in jail, in persecution, pain, hunger, chains, etc. Paul had been observing Demas in

his walk. He knew very well who Demas was, in his walk, and behavior. Demas was seeking for fortune, but when he left he was no longer going to have real companions. That was the road that Demas took, to his destruction. He left a true partner, because Paul was more than just any partner. Perhaps Demas would have money, fame, recognition, etc. But, that world is not for the church of Jesus Christ. 2 Timothy 4:10 Paul meant nothing to Demas. A lack of enthusiasm and degeneration came to Demas life. He let go of all that was pure and became contaminated. When degeneration arrives it brings a lack of enthusiasm. When our faith fails everything begins to bother us and we begin to gossip. Degeneration must not arrive to the righteous life because it will bring an end to everything. Demas did not allow Jesus to change his life. Salvation is a gift which we do not deserve but has been given to us. Jesus paid the price, he went to the cross, and canceled our debt. The other ones who were with Paul had left to accomplish what Paul had commended them to do. In Paul’s loneliness Demas walked away to Thessalonica. As a leader it is very frustrating when somebody walks away from God. It is not a matter of joy or of happiness. Paul was in the verge of death, his last hours were numbered. Paul could not say: "my beloved Demas" because Demas had loved the world more than he had loved the Messiah's promise. Demas didn’t have the guts to look straight into Paul’s eyes when he left. Demas ways were not understood, his grumbling and gone forever, that was Demas. What a misery for him! We need to move God’s manifestations on our behalf. This world is waiting for us to fail to make fun of us. We must be careful! We should care with honor what we have. Paul loved eternity. Demas and those who walk away from God leave in decadence, because having been collaborators they are not well and it is as if they didn’t exist, because they have deserted in their hearts and they no longer fight on behalf of the Kingdom of God. Sometimes we make decisions, and we began to attach ourselves to the world and we become deserters. Little by little the collaborator ended up being a deserter and the title of honor became a name of shame. The story of Demas is a story of a spiritual degradation. If we take this road we know that there will be many problems. The way to Christ is the narrowest one. We should take this road thoroughly. When we try to escape from suffering and we live in complaint it is because there is no faith. In the deepness of this road there are decisions, there is determination. We sometimes see this road as if it was the worst, but this is the road that leads us to eternal life. When Demas was confronted with persecution, sacrifice and solitude of the jails he left to avoid the suffering because it was not what he expected. To put our desire in the things of this world is to lose our life. We must put our trust in the Lord and He will exalt us always. Amen.