Distractions

Do you ever come across a verse in the Bible that has the ability to just kind of haunt you? While you're reading you come across the verse and it causes you to pause and contemplate and then hours or even days after you read it, you find that it is still lingering in the back of your mind and thoughts?

2 Timothy 4:10 has been that verse for me lately.

"For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia."

Having loved this present world and is departed.

Those are the words that have haunted my mind for days. It has caused me to think outside of the black and white print of the page in which these words are written. I have pondered and contemplated the man of Demas, what was he like? How long had he been serving and working with Paul? What finally caused him to turn and depart?

I use the word finally there because the Bible says that he departed because he loved this present world. Love is a choice and it is usually developed over time, not over night. So my conclusions narrow down to the fact that Demas became distracted by the things of this world, while serving in God's will for him. Though it may have started as distractions, the more time and attention Demas gave to the world and the things it had to offer, the more his heart and his love were drawn away from God and His will.

If I am not careful, who is to say I would not do the same as Demas. That is why the Bible instructs us to be sober and to be vigilant and in the very same book that Demas is mentioned, Paul exhorts Timothy to "flee youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart." (2 Timothy 2:22).

Distractions can be hard to ignore. Our present world is filled with them. It is sometimes a wonder how anything really gets done considering all the things we allow in our lives that distract us. But luckily, we have the Word of God that instructs on what weapons we have available to us when fighting distractions.

"For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared unto all men. Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ." Titus 2:11-13

The grace of God teaches us to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts and if we do that, we can live soberly and godly even in our present wicked and sinful world.

When we give into the ungodly distractions of this world, we run the risk of ruining some very important things such as our testimony and we lose out on opportunities to serve God.

In 2 Timothy chapter 4, just a few verses before Demas is mentioned, Paul describes that he has fought the fight and finished his course and he knew that when he got to Heaven, he would get a crown of righteousness because he stayed by the stuff, he didn't give in to the distractions of the world, as tempting and alluring as they may be.

Stay focused fellow Christian. Keep your mind (and your heart) stayed on Christ.

"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee; because he trusteth in thee." Isaiah 26:3

Demas was working with one of the greatest Christian examples and he was serving the one true and holy God. His name is even mentioned in the Bible for people to read for years and years. Although he is mentioned, the only thing written of him is how having loved this present world, he departed.

Don't be a Demas. Use the power that is found in the grace of God to deny the distractions of this world and strive to live godly, soberly and righteously, with a mind stayed on Him. The end result will be an untarnished testimony, a crown of righteousness in Heaven and perfect peace.