A message on my phone encouraged me to contact a certain Margaret. It seems she wants to recruit me for a job. I have great potential to earn an amazing amount of money. In fact, my name has repeatedly come to her company’s attention.
Perhaps you have received a similar text.
It’s a scam.
This morning I opened my Facebook to a post by a friend, or at least once-upon-a-time thought to be friend, even co-workers for the Kingdom. Since those days, she has renounced faith in Christ, and clearly denounced her former friends. She has “deconstructed” her faith. In so doing, she tore apart much more than she realizes in this moment. While she directs her hatred and venom toward Christianity as a whole, she also hurls a hope for a future fiery end for each individual. Like me.
My friend has been scammed. Swindled by the world around her and the intimate lusts of her own heart.
She reminds me of Demas in 2 Timothy 4:9-10. He found his spiritual grip weakening even while he was surrounded by perseverant followers of Jesus. Other things in life took a tighter hold on his heart and mind. Loyalty to Jesus weakened until he was drawn into the mire of worldly quicksand.
The Apostle Paul wrote, “for Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world, and has departed for Thessalonica.” (2 Timothy 4:10)
Demas fell for a scam.
Demas worked side by side with those we would consider “the Greats,” the founding fathers of Christian faith, Luke, Mark, Paul, and Aristarchus, noted for his steadfastness. He traveled with them, ate with them, learned from them, discussed Scripture together, purposed and planned with them.
During Paul’s first Roman imprisonment, Demas journeyed together with this elite team. He and Luke, author of the book named after him, worked together.
“Luke the beloved physician and Demas greet you.” (Colossians 4:14 NKJV)
Demas was with Paul during his first imprisonment, and probably at least for a time, during Paul’s second imprisonment.
“Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you, as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow laborers.” (Philemon 1:23-24 NKJV)
But Demas loved this present world. He left Paul and his Jesus-following friends. He exchanged truth for a lie. He embraced a scam.
Perhaps the early Church’s subjection to mockery and persecution, seemed extra hard up-close and personal. He’d seen the conditions Paul endured. In fact, by the world’s standards, Paul suffered a rotten ending. Maybe, Demas felt that the world supplied more happiness and comfort, or just a better place to fulfill his own desires and dreams.
The abandonment left a void in Paul’s life, and in the body of Christ. Although Demas is never again mentioned in Scripture, tradition claims a painful martyr’s death for the other men listed, those faithful and obedient to the call of Christ.
So, did Demas do the smart thing and get out while the getting was good? Was the easy way out validated? No, a bajillion times no.
Jesus said, “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10 NKJV)
Scams are never the real thing. They steal, kill, and destroy. But Jesus promises abundant life.
What may appear as more fun, more glamorous, and more satisfying doesn’t yield enduring happiness or joy. What seems to promise a better life apart from Christ, can not. Scams are imposters, deviations from something abiding, deep and lasting.
“Me” sits at the core of each scam. False promises are thrown our way every day. They appeal to our desires, planting themselves like a tiny seed within. There they take root, and eventually grow to take command.“Me” sits at the core of each scam. Share on X
I don’t know what sort of life Demas lived after he left Paul. We aren’t given specifics, we only know that his love for the world rather than love for Christ drove his departure.
With a swipe on my screen I delete the new message of an unpaid toll charge listed in a state I’ve not been to in the last five years. I’m pretty sure the horrific fine will not reach me, my car won’t be impounded, nor am I in great danger of prison. But the barrage of scams lately has me thinking.
Demas is a sobering reminder. I don’t want to deconstruct, to tear down trust in the Way, Truth, and the Life. I want to build my faith. I want it constructed firmer and stronger daily through God’s Word. I want to pour it into all the cracks of my soul, invite the guidance of His Spirit, and protect my heart from flirting with the lie that something, anything, is better than Jesus.
I want to be faithful to the end like Paul, Luke, Mark, and Aristarchus.
I hope Demas’ foray into the world was short-lived, and that my friend’s will be too. And I pray that no scam will tear neither you nor I from the truth, for nothing but Jesus brings life abundant.
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