Therefore, we ought to pay greater attention to the things that were heard, lest perhaps we drift away.
Hebrews 2:1
Have you ever read about Demas from the New Testament? At first, he was a faithful follower of the Lord.
Paul, the apostle, mentions Demas in his letters.
Luke the beloved physician and Demas greet you.
Colossians 4:14
And Paul mentions him in his letter to Philemon:
“…as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.”
Philemon 1:24
But while Paul was in Mamertine Prison, his execution immanent, he mentions Demas again.
“…Be diligent to come to me soon…for Demas left me, having loved this present world…”
2 Timothy 4:9 & 10
This must have been a deep sorrow for Paul, made doubly hard by his looming death.
Demas had, at one time, been a faithful companion. Bible scholars even believe that he served time in prison with Paul. Do you see the depth of Demas’ faith? He may have been imprisoned because of faith in Christ Jesus.
So, what happened?
Demas drifted away from the God he once loved and was captivated by the world. (1 John 2:15)
Can you imagine ever knowing and loving Jesus, but then finding the world more alluring than the Savior?
It just seems one thing to have never believed in and loved Jesus rejecting Him eternally; and another to have once loved the Savior and then push Him away.
Well, it can happen. And it happens frequently. All it takes is a little shift. One small step into desire, greed, pride or any sinful pursuit. Sometimes loss or fear can cause one to drift.
True believers who drift will eventually face unbearable consequences. Sometimes our consequences harm others in our lives.
Another loss for drifting believers is the loss of heavenly rewards. (1 Corinthians 3:15)
But the most excruciating loss, is the loss of a close personal relationship with God. Sin always causes separation from God.
For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast,
and every transgression and disobedience received a just penalty,
how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation…
Hebrews 2:2 & 3
Now, we don’t know about the salvation of any other person. Only God knows. (Romans 14:4) So, we must not judge others.
Demas may never have been truly born again. But Paul had believed that he was a steadfast believer.
Maybe Demas was born again. 2 Timothy 4:10 says that he found the allure of the world to be irresistible. Maybe the fear of being persecuted overwhelmed him.
One thing is certain. If Demas had ever truly found grace with God, then his salvation was never at risk. But his relationship with God was. (John 10:28 & 29) (Jude 1:24)
Do you consider yourself to be born-again? Have you drifted from the faith? If you are truly born-again, nothing can keep you from God’s grasp. Just repent and confess your sin. Turn around and come back to your relationship with Him.
If you are not certain, or if you know that you are on the outside, Jesus is always there for you. Just believe by simple faith. Then draw close to him in a close personal relationship.
But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love toward mankind appeared,
not by works of righteousness which we did ourselves,
but according to his mercy,
he saved us through the washing of regeneration and renewing (being born again)
by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior;
that being justified by his grace, we might be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Titus 3:4-7
If you have questions about your faith in Jesus, why not visit a web site like billygraham.net/peacewithgod. Or call one of the counselors. They are available 24 hours a day. Billy Graham 855-255-PRAY
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Isaiah 52:7
World English Bible (WEB)
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Statement of Faith
Getting the Seed out of the basket and into hungry hearts. Matthew 13 