Here’s something that I wrote a long time ago, and it’s something that comes to mind often.
Demas is not a famous Biblical character, even though he obviously played a large role in Paul’s missionary team. Where do we meet Demas, and who was this man?
We read of Demas in Colossians 4:14 that he was with Paul and Luke on great missionary travels. In Philemon 24 we see Paul sending greetings from Demas, Luke, and Mark. Demas was in great company, surrounded by men of outstanding faith. He witnessed great moves of God, heard marvelous messages, and saw mighty acts of the Holy Spirit. He saw churches begin, the new faith of many thousands springing into reality, and probably took part in great times of prayer and praise.
However, in the last letter of the apostle Paul we see that in spite of all of these wonderful, spiritual times, Demas decided upon a different path. In Second Timothy 4:10 we read that Paul was disheartened because, “Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world.”
What a tragic thing! Demas, a man who had seemingly started well, had great influences upon his life, and saw mighty movements of God, did not finish well. We do not read more about Demas because he chose the way of the flesh and the world rather than the way of the Spirit.
John writes in first John 2:15, 17, “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. And the world is passing away… but he who does the will of God abides forever.”
Let’s remember that we are not immune to the lust of the flesh and the temptations of the world. We will always be faced with temptations. We always have a choice. But, what are you going to choose – the way of the world, or the way of the Spirit? Let’s choose the way of the Spirit and be with a part of those who finish the race well.
Jed Gourley
April 3, 2003
Kyiv, Ukraine
Distant Fields 