Do you know about Demas?

Daily Bread Devotions by Chuck Myer  Daily Bread Archive | Sign up for our resources

 A Lesson for April Fool’s Day

From Paul’s final letter, written to his beloved Timothy, we read,

“Make every effort to come to me soon; for Demas, having loved this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica;” (2 Timothy 4:9-10)

There is in this short text a certain sadness conveyed from the apostle Paul. Paul is in Rome, in prison, under the watchful eye of the Roman guard. He greatly desires that Timothy “come . . . soon,” and it is evident that Paul is aware his time on earth is short (2 Timothy 4:6-8). In this state, he experiences the presence of Luke, a devoted fellow believer, a co-laborer who is now the only one with him (II Timothy 4:11). Luke is the only one with him because another co-worker named “Demas . . . has deserted” him.
 
Do you know about “Demas?” He had been a cherished co-laborer with Paul, a co-worker in the spreading of the gospel message of Jesus the Christ (Philemon 24; Colossians 4:14). He seemed to be the real deal. 
 
But, the Scripture tells us that at some point during this time in Rome “Demas” made it known that he “loved this present world,” and so he left Paul’s presence and headed to “Thessalonica.”
 
This word “deserted” speaks of “letting someone down.” It is a strong word suggesting “forsaking one who is in a set of circumstances that are against him.” Paul was awaiting execution. 
 
At this point in the ministry, a most trying time, we find out that “Demas . . . loved this present world.” Kenneth Wuest, former Greek instructor at Moody Bible Institute, writes concerning this text that he “had set a high value on this present age.” The word for “world” here is aion, better translated “age.” It speaks of, in an ethical sense, the “aims and hopes and aspirations” that define the “current time.” It speaks of “the spirit of” those “who are living alienated and apart from God.” As someone has written, “the spirit of the age had gotten hold of him.” 
 
This is a difficult passage, one that should cause us pause. As much as it is a sad report it also is an alarming one! For we come to the understanding that this world we live in can serve as a powerful tool of seduction that can actually draw a person away from the work of Christ. And this “love” of the “present age” can be even more inviting when conditions are not so favorable. 
 
Do you know about Demas? After reading about this man these words from John’s first letter come swiftly to my mind,

“Do not love the world, nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.” (I John 2:15-16 – NASB)

 
And as he commands those he is addressing to “stop loving the world,” take special note of John’s refrain,

“And the world is passing away, and also its lusts” (I John 2:17- NASB)

What a fool Demas was.  He turned his back on God, choosing rather to embrace the trappings of “the age” rather than to reap the eternal blessings of Christ. It can happen! Was he really ever saved? Was the “love” for “the age” always in his heart? This “Demas” certainly causes one to ask such questions. And this “Demas” also serves as one who causes us to examine ourselves. 
 
Have a good day brethren . . . and let it be said of you and I that, by God’s grace, we not be found to be as Demas.