The Dilemma

For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world. 2 Timothy 4:10
I’ve been intrigued by the story of Demas most of my Christian life.  Not to the point of digging very deep into it, but more like, every time I hear or read that scripture, I pause and wonder a little.  A few days ago, it struck me how personally Paul took it.  He didn’t say Demas has forsaken God, it was personal. “Demas hath forsaken me.”

But then, we do personally invest in our brothers and sisters in Christ, or we should.  Have you ever felt like another Christian has forsaken you?  Have you ever been astonished and heartbroken by finding that someone in your church or someone you had confidence in had fallen into a backsliden state?
I know I have!
I’ve had friends, from the pulpit to the back door, seemingly fall between Sunday and Wednesday.  Singing God’s praise on Sunday and emersed in a sinful life by Friday night.
When that happens, does it happen instantly as it appears on the surface? Did Demas lose out in a moment?
I don’t believe so, just like l don’t believe it happened in so quickly with the friends that I mentioned before.

I’ve come to realize that there are two aspects to this, perspectives, so to speak.
I’m not amazed that people fall or fail God, only saddened.
People fall, we all fall to one degree are another. We are, after all, glorified mud balls and born and shapen in sin.
The outcome is predicated on how we act or react to overcome the fall. 

My first question is, How Could This Happen.
For the answer, I only have to look at myself.

It doesn’t happen from Sunday to Wednesday! It is only made manifest in that short time frame.
For one thing, you can only lose something that you actually have.
If you neglect your relationship with God, it can become cold and stale.
Just like a marriage that’s neglected, it happens over time.
You stop sharing everything, then you stop sharing most things, then you stop sharing anything. Little by little, you lose your first love. Then become distracted, and little by little, you start secretly dabbling in things that are not good for the relationship.

Hebrews 12:1 talks about laying aside “every weight and the sin.”
We start on the journey backward by neglecting our Bridegroom, then we start flirting with the weights. It’s not sin, so what will it hurt. But they are weights or burdens that only further decreases our ability to be faithful to our God. They distract and keep us preoccupied and open the door for sin to sneak back in.
Then on a Sunday night, after days, weeks, or months of neglecting Jesus, while pretending to worship or while sitting at home looking for an excuse to not go to church, the devil convinces you that you never really had anything and you’re a hypocrite for pretending. You foolishly listen, and off you go, surprising everyone but you.

To avoid this, we have to develop an abiding love and dedication to Jesus Christ. Crucifying the flesh daily and refusing to compromise on the things of God. Prayer, fasting and studying God’s word.
I know that life is complicated, bad things happen, and some things can’t be explained.
Not trying to oversimplify it, but it does come down to a stubborn, determination and unyielding faithfulness even through the bad times, especially through the bad times.

My second thought is how the church, the bride, the body of Christ is so easily beguiled.
This one is a little more difficult to understand. I don’t want you to think that I’m down on everyone. There are many good, Godly people, walking right, talking right, and in tune with the Spirit.

In my opinion, there are a few reasons why we (The Church) miss the signs, and likewise the opportunities to help early in the decline.
One reason, we are self-absorbed and not paying attention to our brothers and sisters. Our problems are the only ones that we focus on.
Second, we are conditioned to look at the outside. If they appear to have it together, we assume they do.
That’s where we run off the tracks.
While I do believe the Spirit of God living within us will manifest Itself on the outside.
Our eyes or sight, more specifically, is one of our five basic senses. It is not x-ray vision, its only surface or superficial vision.
I Samuel 16:7 But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.

Just like a photograph doesn’t tell the store of what going on around the subject, our sight only sees what it sees, not what’s inside.
Jesus told the Pharisees that they were like unto whited sepulchers or tombs.
That outwardly, they “appeared” beautiful, but the inside was full of “dead men’s bones.”

In our natural bodies, if we have a toothache or earache, every inch of our body knows it and feels it. If something is off in one part of the body, the whole body knows it and tries to fix it.

Likewise, in the Body of Christ, shouldn’t our spiritual needs be connected. Shouldn’t we, if we are Of the Body, be sensitive to the other parts Of the Body?

I do realize that as a flawed creature, I miss things. I’m not always as sensitive as I should be. Sometimes I get detracted by the ringing in my ears and don’t hear what the Spirit saith and I’m sure I’m not alone.
But, but, as in a natural body, the ears are not alone. When the ear is distracted, surely the hand or the heart will take notice. Are we not in this together, for our individual and our collective salvation.

So, that, to me, is where we/I fall short. I get used to using the outside as a gauge for the spiritual wellbeing of others and missing opportunities to lift up a sister or brother.

And while I believe that a Godly person will be modest in appearance, appearance is not a reliable test of spirituality.

Trusting everyone that looks “Holy” probably says more about my Spirit than it does about theirs.

A friend told me a few days ago that “The Holy Ghost is a Lie Detector.”
Not just a lie detector but so much more than that.
For a lie detector to work, it has to be connected to the power source. It has to be connected to the person suspected of lying, and the technician has to understand the information being relayed by the machine.
Likewise, to be an effective Saint of God and a Minister to our calling, we must be connected to the Power, and have an Ear to Hear what the Spirit is saying, then the Spirit can and will use us to speak answers to others.

The Bible is our ultimate Guide, the true Spirit will NEVER contradict the Word of God.
God is in control, trust in Him.

I’m aware that there are a lot more questions and answers to be had on this subject, but I hope that it will make us think. I also hope that the thinking will lead to digging into the word of God and to digging deeper into the Spirit.

Be Blessed,
Greg