"Demas Forsook Me"

Written by Guy N. Woods, this appeared in the March, 1986 edition of The Tennessee Valley Christian, published in Scottsboro, AL and edited by Charles E. Cobb.

The place was an underground prison not far from the Roman forum. The time was shortly before the apostle's execution. The occasion was a missive to his "son in the gospel," the evangelist Timothy.

Loneliness enveloped him like a shroud through the long weary hours; his body scarred and weakened from the brutal beatings he often received, shivered from the chill of an Italian winter and he longed for comfort and consolation of a devoted and faithful friend. "Give diligence to come shortly unto me," Paul wrote to Timothy (2 Timothy 4:9-10). Most of his fellow-workers were on missions of importance, errands most likely suggested by Paul himself. Crescens had gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia, Tychicus to Ephesus. Only Luke was with him. An associate of earlier days, Demas, was neither there, nor on a tour to preach the gospel. "For Demas forsook me, having loved this present world, and went to Thessalonica..."

From this, we may gather that the apostate disciple was formerly of Thessalonica and to that city returned when his interest in the Lord and His cause waned. His defection was, therefore, all the more blameworthy; he had forsaken Christ in forsaking Christ's faithful apostle and he did so when Paul needed his help, encouragement and presence most. The reason assigned is that he "loved this present world." By "world" is meant the things that are peculiar to the material existence rather than those of a spiritual and eternal nature. He loved its pleasures, its allurements, its attractions, its sin. All these, he loved more than he loved the Lord.

Did Demas persist in this course until death and was lost eternally? We do not know. It is possible that he later came to himself, recognized the senselessness of his choice and, in penitence, returned to the Lord. But, if so, there is no record of it. He passes out of history and from our sight as an apostate, a faithless friend and a failure.

There is some reason to conclude that Demas was lacking in moral and physical courage and that the occasion of his fall was first fear and then love for the world. In the context from which we first learn of Demas' defection, we read from the apostle's pen, "At my first defense, no on took my part, but all forsook me" (2 Timothy 4:16). Inasmuch as the same word "forsook" is used, it is possible that his faith weakened as his fear of consequences strengthened and that he did not identify with Paul because of cowardice. The courage of Paul in confronting physical and moral evil is in sharp contract with the disposition of Demas which ultimately led to apostasy.

Here, as often elsewhere is the history of men, this contrast is clearly observable. Often, among members of the same family, having been subject to the same teaching, and with the same moral influence about them, the results are wholly different. Two sons, for example, grow up together, they hear the same teaching, they are subject to the same patterns in life, they experience the same discipline, one of them to bring honor and joy, the other to break their parents' hearts and to die in shame and disgrace. Heredity is a major aspect of our lives and environmental considerations are of great importance but, the use which is made of these influences becomes the determining factor in life.

Sailboat hobbyists are well aware that the same breeze will make the vessel go in opposite directions depending on the set of the sail! Each individual must ultimately direct his own course in life; some from the most unfavorable circumstances triumph over them. Others, favored and fortunate in life, turn away from its highest ideals and, like Demas, disappoint and fail those who loved them most.