This present world
"[9] Do thy diligence to come shortly unto me: [10] For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia." 2tim4:9-10
As we continue on our study on the life of Demas and it's impact on the ministry of Apostle Paul, we noticed that the part 1 of this series explored "the departed ones". We wondered at how such an impact filled companion of Paul could end up the way he did. We also looked at a cyclic chain reaction that resulted in Demas ending up a departed soul. Remember, He forsook something, due to a corrupted love or affinity with the world, and it ultimately led to the inevitability of a departed soul.
Today, we want to bother ourselves with what is it with the present world that it's power is so strong to pull away such a servant of God at such a time of his limelight.
Apostle Paul identified the main reason of Demas forsaken him and abandoning a glorious call for a retirement trip of Thessalonica. He said....
"Demas loved this present world"....
This present world is a term used to represent a geographical sphere hidden in a system of operations that comprises of earthly elemental materials that offer an escape from the spiritual path. The world in the biblical reference talks about a system of life built by the devil over man to negate or in every way extinguish the way of the kingdom. Yes, the elements is matter and can be seen with the physical eyes and sensually felt, it is only but an illusion generated by man's senses and ideologies on the way man should view comfort and in turn his mannerisms of life. It's engenders rebellion to the ways of God cos it's basis is on the soulish realm and it's ability to satisfy the mortal mind and it's fleshly cravings.
"The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil." Jn7:7
When Jesus made this statement, he wasn't talking about a people. He actually meant to say the "system" of the world. There is a system of this world in either accepting you & forcing you into its mould or working against you. If we also look at Mathew 4 vs 8,
"Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;"
Both Jesus and the devil were just on the mountain top. There was no way he could have seen all the kingdoms of the world from just a mountain in Jerusalem... Thus meaning that what the devil showed Jesus was not a people but a system. A system that can control men. A system that has so much influence that it can command power with its glory. The world is a system ran by the devil in the minds of mortal men using its elemental resources as its means of control and influence.
Now if we can establish the above fact, we can now look at the navigation of Demas when his deviation was on this present world. We understood that his departing was to a city called "Thessalonica".
Thessalonica on record from ancient geography was the second most populous city in Greek. At a time Greece ruled the world before the reign of the Roman empire. The city is known as a major economic, commercial, transportation and industrial hub of the entire eastern Europe. Most especially it was well known for its attractive tourism attractions. So in essence, Demas chose a certain way of life that synchronised with his mind as a better choice in the scheme of things. It means that the world has an attraction that promotes the soulish realm and life making it appear as though it has found a safe harbour.
"And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful." mk4:19
"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?" mk8:36,37
" 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." 1jn2:15,16
From the scriptural verses listed above we can see that:
*That the world system has cares, is deceitful and operates with other lusts.
*That the world system offers some sort of gain and tender for exchange
*That it craves for love and attention, and it only comprises of two main instrument of operation.... Lust and pride!
Demas became a slave to what he saw and what his flesh wanted. He yielded his will to a new master by obeying his fleshly demands. He saw a life of a co-labourer as demeaning compared to the cool shades and tourism life of Thessalonica. He must have weighed all options before him and has come to the concluding result that Thessalonica offered a better life and prospect. He saw suffering as a demeaning life that could be avoided only if he could get to Thessalonica. He probably had cares which he thought the riches of Thessalonica could afford. He must have weighed his gains with a little business deal in the big city more worthy than mere winning of souls. In fact , there were many souls to win in Thessalonica too only if he could stop doing it the kingdom way but his own way. He must have daydreamed about the night lights of the big Apple city and felt his head in the clouds. What could stop him at this point. He let down his guard and so allowed the lusts of the flesh and eyes and it's pride to corrupt his tender heart. And hence, he departed. Degraded by.... this present world.
Man of God, can we sincerely weight your heart now in the balances of God. What is your sole aim of going into ministry? For souls, the kingdom of God or your belly. Have you turned ministry into an avenue of sharing money? I can understand that times are hard and meeting up with ministerial demands is overwhelming, and you feel the people are not supporting you as they should financially and you are on the verge of abandoning the work and going into businesses so you can also make it like other of your colleagues? Did you revolt to a decision of the church to repost you far away from your assumed Thessalonica and you secretly still murmur or even abandoned the church? Do you envy the riches of others and secretly wish you were them? When last did you sincerely rejoice with the promotion of others without being jealous or envious? I can go on and on but you can see that maybe like Demas you have departed, even though you are still preaching. You may even own a cathedral in Thessalonica but you know you built it with stolen money, a money not accounted for. You may even have resorted to Wed divorcees and lesbians/Gay secretly in your church to receive funds to be servicing your Thessalonica church and we are clapping for you as being successful yet you have abandoned Paul. Even though Demas had become the most powerful and richest man in Thessalonica later in life, he would only die and be remembered by the applause of men, waiting to be received by the devil and his angels.
Bishop, where did you abandon Paul? Has the Holyspirit repeatedly cried out like Paul that you have forsaken him and departed? What is that love breaking the master's love in your heart? Jesus made it categorically clear in Matthew 6 vs 23 & 24, when he said....
"But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness! [24] No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon."
A man that loves this present world cannot also love God. You are not wiser than Jesus when he insisted that NO MAN can serve two masters at a time. You must hold one and despise the other. Which are you holding? Thessalonica or the Kingdom.
The choice is yours!
