LEAVING THE LIVING GOD IS NOT A RIGHT DECISION
For Demas, having loved this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica; Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia. 2 Timothy 4:10
What is there in this present world? The Bible says- For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world 1 John 16. From this verse, it is obvious that there are three aspects in this world.
(1) The lust of the flesh
(2) The lust of the eyes
(3) The boastful pride of life.
We cannot love both God and the world at the same time. Some or all of the above three aspects might have attracted Demas. Demas, having loved this world, was unable to continue with God Servant Paul. Thereafter, he deserted St Paul and even God. Why this happened? This happens even today. Our reasons for accepting the Lord as our personal saviour may be not perfect. The main reason for us to have faith in Him is to have the eternal life after death. This is the essence of the Bible which talks, without doubt, about eternal life after one’s death. The Bible says that the life on this earth is temporary and one should prepare his life on this earth for this eternal life in Christ Jesus. We need a right foundation for our faith. In this regard, the Bible says- Do not love this world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him 1 John 2:15. Therefore, we cannot love both God and the world simultaneously. We must be watchful if the things of the world entering into our lives.
Leaving the living God is not a right decision. People may think that they will delight in the world but practically this might not happen. In reality, we may lose everything we have. This could be our wealth, health, family, happiness, etc. Look at this verse from the Bible: And He said, “A man had two sons. The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the estate that falls to me.’ So he divided his wealth between them. And not many days later, the younger son gathered everything together and went on a journey into a distant country, and there he squandered his estate with loose living. Luke 15:11. What did this younger son gain? He thought he could do well with his share of the estate fallen to him. Finally, he lost everything. He lost the loving presence of his father. He lost his brother’s fellowship. He lost his riches. His status became a servant to a man in a far country. What do you gain if you go away from the Lord? There is no joy in this world. This is available only with the Lord Jesus. Read this verse- You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever. Psalms 16:11.
Finally, it is important to note that once we go away from the Lord, it might not be possible for us to comeback to holy presence. Demas was with St Paul. He might have seen great heavenly miracles from the Lord. He might have experienced the presence of the Lord. However, it is written that he left St. Paul as he had loved the present world. In this context, Read this verse: For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame. Hebrews 6:4-6. In the above parable, the prodigal son came to his senses and returned to his father. How many of us can really come back to our father if we have fallen away? Which is easier for you to keep a perfect relation with God or to fall away and comeback to Him?