(1/19/20) “The Power to See it Through” (2 Timothy 4:1-5-11) The Text says: Today’s Epiphany text is from Paul’s second letter to Timothy about friendship. Primarily it is between the Apostle and his young “son in the faith,” Timothy. The drama comes from the fact that Paul is in a Roman prison and knows his days and nights are running out on him, like “libation being poured from a bottle.” Paul feels abandoned and lonely. He has only a few friends he can count on, including Dr. Luke and Mark “All others have deserted me.” Including his former friends Demas, who “loved this present world.” You find out who your real friends are when facing tough times. The Preacher Says: Paul had several missionary buddies, some of whom he cites in his correspondence to his protege Timothy. Demas was part of the team. But Demas had an itch that needed scratching. He got so captivated by “the call of the wild” that his calling seemed tame by comparison. Mentioned only three times in the New Testament, most of us have never heard of him. And yet he’s a living illustration of one of humanity’s common tragedies: a good start but a poor finish. Demas lacked the power to see it through. The first time he shows up is in the Book of Philemon. There it was “Demas and Luke, my fellow-workers.” So good so far. The next time he appears is in Colossians, and there’s a shift, “Luke the beloved physician, and Demas.” Good ol’ dependable Luke, the beloved. But just plain ol’ Demas. The last time Demas is mentioned by Paul is in our text in II Timothy; his “last will and testament.” This time it’s “Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present age.” Three points on a curve, allowing us to plot its graph; that tells the story of a man who had a fine beginning but a wretched ending. (1) “Demas, my fellow-worker; (2) Demas; (3) Demas has forsaken me.” I think it’s notable that Luke’s Gospel, is the only one that tells the story of the parable about a man who started to “build a tower but didn’t have what it takes to finish it.” Neither Matthew, Mark, nor John bother to include that story. But Luke does. You can’t help but wonder if it’s because of his firsthand disappointment of Demas’ lack of staying power. A timely thought for a new year. January is a time for noble resolutions, that are forgotten by July; and the weight’s back on. I This year I approached my Libby with a proposal” After 58 years waking up beside you, don’t you think a good resolution would be to lose 20 pounds? She didn’t even raise her head. She just said: “The day I wake up next to Robert Redford, I ‘ll lose 40 pounds!” Ah the ladies. What would we do without the ladies? Preachers have a “honeymoon period” till they step on their first church land mine! But how many enjoy a good conclusion? Babies are born, representing hope. No matter how beautiful one’s beginning, it’s all for naught without a good ending. Even Jesus with a Christmas birthday could’ve spoiled everything in Gethsemane and got out of the game that night in the garden. Had he done so, nothing would be remembered about him. We know there was a Christ because he had the power to complete what he started; in the end he said, “It is finished!” A grand beginning, O yeah! But a remarkable ending! What is the most difficult tragedy we can know? To face suffering? To have an impairment? To start out poor? Hardly. We all know people who suffered greatly, enduring hurtful handicaps. Even the Apostle Paul had his “thorn in the flesh.” It was such a distraction that he begged God three times to remove it. Paul wanted to be healed, but the thorn remained. And God allowed as how “his grace would be sufficient.” St. Paul had to live with his thorn, but Demas is the tragedy, because he couldn’t keep his commitments. How important is that for successful living? Consider marriage. How sublime love begins! Romance! But those who’ve been at it awhile, watch the young and the shindigs they put on called a “wedding.” Fine start. Everybody’s applauding and happy. It’s a party, man! We leave no stone uncovered to see that they have everything it takes to start a good home. But what about the qualities to keep one? It’s gotten so bad in our day that fewer and fewer people are even bothering to get married anymore. Yet, a good beginning only makes an unhappy ending more tragic. For this new year, we won’t talk about a good beginning. That’s something most everybody has. But what about the qualities of faith and character and perseverance that enable us to see life through? Compare Paul and Demas in Rome. Paul’s love for the Lord never waned. Demas found another love a deadlier sort, described as: “love for this present age.” Because it’s hard not to gravitate towards whatever or whoever it is that we love. We better be careful what we love. There’s an irresistible pull, an unconscious drawing; sirens beckon unto us. Chart the course of the biblical marriages of Isaac and Rebecca, or Jacob and Rachel and see what a woman can do to a man; and vice-versa. Plot the romantic movements of Samson and Delilah or David and Bathsheba and see the hurt we can cause in other’s lives. Be careful what you love! You’ll be drawn to it and make your bed in it, and live or die therein. Be careful who you love! It lays a claim on your heart. Those are the arms that embrace you or squash you. Demas loved “this present world” more than serving the Lord with the Apostle Paul. His was the sin of misplaced priorities. He got off to a great start as Paul’s missionary sidekick. Eventually though, he went with his heart instead of his soul and dumped his friend for the allure of the bright lights and big cities of “this present age.” This is the real difference between people. St. Paul faced lots of disappointments, but he was no failure. But Demas couldn’t remain loyal to the royal within himself, and gave in to his lower-angels. So he didn’t arrive at his last port with flags flying. If I called a bunch of folks around here “Judas,” they’d be as indignant as Simon Peter at the Last Supper! But Demas? My soul! How many, like him have sold out to “this present age?” Whew! It’s so easy to be seduced by the things this world has to give. Which is why one of life’s greatest challenges is to appreciate the good things God’s created without becoming their slave. That’s easier said than done. The world is not only a fickle place, it’s also a hard place. Real hard. It takes no prisoners. The things the world tantalizes us with -- the allure of happiness and security is too great. We can’t leave it alone. Side- tracked by what we love. There are two kinds of love: gift love and get love. Jesus’ love was gift-love; freely offered to all, even his enemies. But the world loves to get. Something for nothing. What’s in it for me? As long as I get my share. But most us just want somebody to love us back. Charles Kingsley wrote a poem about that: When all the world is young lad, and all the trees are green. And every goose a swan lad, And every lass a queen. Young blood must have its course lad, and every dog his day. When all the world is old lad, and all the trees are brown; and all the sport is stale lad, And all the wheels slow down; Creep home, and take your place lad, the spent and maimed among; God grant you find one face lad, you loved when life was young. What Demas forgot was nothing in this world “stays young.” And this world won’t love you back! Worldly love is one-way traffic. You give but never get. There are too many Easu’s, content to “sell their souls for a mess of pottage.” Throw away your morals, ruin your reputation, break the hearts of those who love you, cheat on your mate and the world will laugh you to scorn! Sacrifice your dreams and goals for a decent life? The world will kick you while you’re down. There is no fairness. That’s the way of the world. The lure of the exciting life has broken many a man or woman. But a lot of the dissatisfaction in our day seems to be not from what we lack but what somebody else has. Envy is the equal partner of greed. There are lots of people out there, head-over-heels in love with “this present age.” Cause that’s what they give themselves to. Demas forsook Paul, because of “his love for this present world.” But you can’t love this world enough. It’s an empty well. It only asks for more. It’s a losing battle every time. Nobody wins.