Don’t Be Like Demas
The man is only mentioned three times in the Bible, all by Paul. Twice it is as a saved man, Paul’s fellow laborer, once as a man who has departed, now loving the world.
“Luke, the beloved physician, and
Demas, greet you.” Colossians
“There salute thee Epaphras, my fellowprisoner in Christ Jesus; Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellowlabourers.” Philemon 23-24 KJV
If Demas was never saved, he sure had Paul fooled, especially since he was willing to call him a laborer with him. And then the downfall:
“Do thy diligence to come shortly unto
me: For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is
departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to
The man knew the way, he had experienced it, and unless Paul had no spiritual discernment was saved at one point. Yet he wound up loving the world, whereas Luke stayed true. Loving the present world and your life here will cause you to go to Hell; Jesus hammered the point home multiple times:
“He that loveth his life shall lose it;
and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.”
John
“34: And when he had called the
people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever
will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
35: For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall
lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.
36: For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world,
and lose his own soul?
37: Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
38: Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this
adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed,
when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.” Mark 8:34-38
KJV
John did the same:
“15: Love not the world, neither
the things that are in the world. If any man love the
world, the love of the Father is not in him.
16: For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of
the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father,
but is of the world.
17: And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth
the will of God abideth for ever.” First John 2:15-17 KJV
The day is coming when you may have to choose between things of this world and your life. Food and acceptance in society are not to be taken over Jesus. Today it doesn’t seem like a big deal, but when the mark of the beast comes, it’ll be the great dividing line. Will you love the world and the things of it enough to take the mark, seeking to temporarily save your life? You’ll lose it, you will surely die. Don’t love the world; it’s not worth your soul. Learn from Demas today, don’t follow in his footsteps.