“You know Thomas, those were some good old days that we had. I still remember hearing Paul preaching about the Lord. I remember our many adventures together for the cause of the Gospel. I also remember seeing so many wonderful miracles that Paul did in the name of the Lord. Those were some good times. Then the journey got tough and I grew weary…. I left Paul… Life was no longer the same after that...” said Demas as he laid dying on his bed. Thomas was one of the few friends who knew of what happened after Demas left the apostle Paul to seek after the pleasures of this world. Life was enjoyable at first but then it spiraled downward. Demas lived with many regrets towards the end of his life.
That was an imaginary scene of what it would be like at the end of Demas’ life. The Bible never does mention what happened to Demas after he had forsaken Paul, and walked away from the ministry. Perhaps he did regret his decision to chase after the things of this world that could not satisfy. Perhaps he never had regret at all? We don’t know the true end of Demas’ life but we do know that one day he will regret his decision, when he stands before the Lord to give an account of his life to God.
Sadly, Demas has not been the only one who has walked away from God, and the ministry. There have been Christians who have chosen to love this world more than God. Many of these Christians are not even in church, or serving God in any way. Just like Demas, these will also stand before God one day to give an account of their lives to God. The Bible said in Romans 14:11-12 “For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.”
The pleasure of sins in this world is only temporary, and fleeting, but the joy of living for God is for an eternity. If you have been forgiven and redeemed, you are now God’s child, but are you living for God? Jesus gave His life for you. What have you given for Him? Will you be another Demas who loves this present world and forsakes the Lord, or will you be faithful to your Savior to the end?
Are you ready to give an account of your life to God if He calls you home now? I pray, and hope that all of us Christians will continue to strive to live and serve God. We must strive to do this faithfully until the end, no matter what goes on around us.
