"...for Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world..." (2 Tim. 4:10). This is the third and final mention made of Demas in Paul's letters. In Col. 4:14, he is listed as one sending greetings to the Colossians. In Phlm. 24, he is named by Paul as a fellow-worker. Now, he is identified as a deserter from the Lord's work. Bible readers of all time have come to know Demas as a name of shame. We are not told whether his love for the world was centered on any one thing, but only that he loved it and what it caused him to do. No love affair ever cost more. Some have called what he paid "the high cost of low living". I agree, because he certainly did descend to a lower plane when he left the Lord to walk with the world. And just consider the costly consequences of his decision.

Every Demas becomes like the Gentiles of old, "having no hope and without God in the world." As Jesus asks, "For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul...?" (Matt. 16:26) For those who may think the sacrifice required in faithfulness costs too much, just remember the cost of unfaithfulness! Loving and living for the world carries the highest price mortal man can pay for anything!

But even beyond all that Demas did in hurting himself, consider what his desertion did to the cause of Christ. In addition to being deprived of a worker, it was also robbed of all the good Demas might have accomplished had he remained faithful. We can but wonder as to how many lives could have been helped by his efforts. We also wonder how many became disheartened and discouraged by his example — especially among his close brethren and kinsmen. Like every willful sinner, he crucified Christ afresh and put Him to an open shame (Heb. 6:6; 10: 29). No man can do as Demas without encouraging other to do the same.

Finally, doing as Demas did hurts the world too. It robs it of the flavor of righteousness imparted unto it by godly living. It deprives it of a good example, a liver and teacher of truth. It snuffs out another desperately needed light in a sin-darkened world (Phil. 2:15). Every Demas who leaves the truth makes it a little more difficult for some Cornelius to learn the truth — or for some Timothy to be reared in it. Doing as Demas hurts all, profits none.    Dan Shipley