2 Timothy 4:10a. “For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world,”
As the Apostle Paul is giving us his “swan song” in 2 Timothy chapter 4 he mentions a casualty because of carnality, who’s name was, “Demas”. From that day to this minute, every faithful man of God knows the sting, sorrow, and severity of a deserter of not only the gospel ministry, but also the Fundamental faith.
Here are the 7 sure signs of a 21st century “Demas”:
1# LIVES WITHOUT ANY STANDARDS WHATSOEVER. – Jude 4b. “turning the grace of God into lascivious, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ”
2# LOOKS TO FIND FAULT WITH THE CHURCH, AND CHRISTIANS. – 2 Timothy 3:3 “..false accusers,..”
3# LOVES TO DEBATE. – Titus 3:9 “But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and striving about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.”
4# LAYS BLAME AT THE FEET OF OTHERS FOR THEM LEAVING “OLD-TIME” RELIGION. – Luke 15:29 “And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make Merry with my friends.”
5# LIKES TO BOAST ON HOW THEY KNOW MORE OF THE BIBLE NOW THEN EVER BEFORE. –2 Timothy 3:7 “Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.” (A.K.A. CALVINISM)
6# LAUGHS AT WHAT THEY ONCE CORRECTLY LABELED “SIN”. – Proverbs 14:9 “Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous there is favor.”
7# LAMPOONS THOSE WHO STAND WITHOUT APOLOGY FOR “OLD-TIME” RELIGION. –2 Kings 2:23 “And he went up from thence from Bethel; and as he was going up by the way, there came forth little children out of the city, and mocked him, and said unto him, Go up, thou bald head; go up, thou bald head.”
So, there they are, the sure signs of when a 21st Century “Demas” introduces himself. Let’s determine to keep our hand on the gospel plough, and not be discouraged, nor distracted by those who once carried a King James Bible, wore a suit in the pulpit, carried gospel tracts, weren’t ashamed of the “faith of our fathers”, and had a desire to do something lasting for time and eternity, but sadly now are getting their spiritual mail delivered to an address in the “far country”!
Evangelist John Hamblin | Canton, Michigan
JohnHamblin.com
