Do your best to come to me quickly, for Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia. Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry.  I sent Tychicus to Ephesus. When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, and my scrolls, especially the parchments.  Alexander the metalworker did me a great deal of harm. The Lord will repay him for what he has done. You too should be on your guard against him, because he strongly opposed our message.  2 Timothy 5:9 – 15

It is heart-breaking when a brother or sister in the Gospel turns away from Jesus Christ and especially devastating when he or she was once a valued member of the team. In Paul’s letter to the Colossiansans,  4:14, he wrote  “Our dear friend Luke, the doctor, and Demas send greetings.”  Fast forward several years – “Demas has deserted me.”

A painful memory comes back to me. One of the leaders of the believers in Bumangi in Tanzania was a powerful witness for Jesus.  That was about 1956. As is often the case, he was despised and even cursed by his fellow tribesmen. He was as faithful to his calling as anyone I knew.  Then, a few years later, I learned that he had taken a second wife and was no longer a simple follower of Christ.   I had to struggle with that.

I have seen so much since then!  I have few answers but find great delight in seeing followers of Jesus live courageously for Him – like Crescens and Titus and Thychicus.  They are great.  But then there is, by the way, Alexander who harmed Paul most deliberately. The story goes on – forgive, repent and praise for the now.

Paul was suffering because he knew he was called to bring Gentiles to believe and to include them into the fellowship, where Jews and Gentile believers love Jesus with identical passion. A miracle indeed.  That vision shaped his entire life!  What shapes me?