The Hope pioneer., 1922-06-08

village and hamlet. He came into
Colosse one day and gathered a
crowd in the market place. He told
the story of the awful conflict rag
ing-he called for volunteers-and a
f1ne specimen Of Greek youth, edu-
Gated in the subtleties of philosophy,
cultured in the fine arts of his re-
nOwned land, initiated into all its Sc
crets Of pleasure and enchantment,
stepped out Of the throng He had
been thrilled by the recital of brave
deeds, crimscned by sacrifice and suf.
fering. The appeal Of the heroic fired
his soul; burning desire was kindled
to follow this great leader. He en-
listed beneath the banner of the cross.
He swore allegiance to the Christ of
Calvary. He left home and kindred.
He became staff officer to the great
general of the Christian forces. For
several years he shares the honors
of war, the spoils of victory. until one
day in fierce conflict with the en-
emy the great Commander is taken
prisoner and cast into a dungeon in
Rome to await execution. This was
too much for the gallant young cap.
tain. Disappointed, disconsolate, he
deserted.
General Paul writes letter to Col
onel Timothy of his staff and tells
him the sad news. What tragedy
He has fought side by side with the
greatest and grandest of soldiers. he
has shared the triumphs of the cross
from Antioch to Rome; then he desert
ed to the ranks of the enemy, forsak-.
ing Christ for the world. No wonder
the heart of the apostle is almost
broken. 1t seems we can hear the
sob of his sorrow in these words:
How can we account for this de-
sertion?
!. Denas Was Never True Soldier.
A true soldier fights until peace is
| proclaimed or death rewards his faith
fulness. He may lose courage at times
when hard pressed, may doubt and fall
ter; may even be defeated in battle,
but he can never, never desert. De-
sertion is the proof of superficial
motive, the result of an attachment.
His heart, soul, will, life, have not
been abandoned to the cause. The
Apostle John has explained this experi-
ence. When referring to the multitude
of disciples who deserted Jesus, he
says: "If they had been of us, they
would not have gone out from U.S."
Demas is always present in history
of the church. Thousands under the
spell Of battle songs and enlistment
appeals have professed allegiance to
Christ. They have put on the uni
form, taken their place in the ranks
perfected the drills, gone into battle,
but when real testing came, they were
reported missing.
II. Demas Reveals the Deception Of
the Human Heart.
1t is possible to so closely resemble
a Christian that only God can tell the
difference. Wheat and tares look ex-
actly alike until harvest. Soldiers
wear the same uniform, fight under
the same banner, follow the same com.
mander until the crisis comes, then
one sticks, the other deserts. Satan's
campaign is one of deception. He
seeks to deceive men and women with
form of godliness, lifeless and worth.
less. The more nearly the counterfeit
resembles the genuine, the greater the
deception. Hundreds of unconverted
people have been deceived. A pro.
fession, uniform, dress parade,
a battle have been the boast of dis
cipleship, but their name is Demas,
for when wounds bloodshed and sac
rifice came, they deserted.
III. Demas Shows the Subtle Attrac.
ton Of the World.
Who can deny the fascination the
bewitchery of this world? Its sights
charm like the mirage, its sounds en-
chant like siren voices, its tieeting
treasures create riot Of passion, its
pomp and pride intoxicate the soul.
Demas loved the world; it was fatal.
He never really opened his heart to
the love Of eternal things. "If any
man love the world, the love of the
Father is not in him." Friendship
with the world is enmity to God. To
set the affection on things on the
earth, is to deny heaven it's rightful
obligation. To follow the worlds
maxims and principles Is to discount
the Word of God and the guidance Of
His Spirit. To live for a good time
in a doomed world where sinners are
going the downward path to hell, is
for Nero to fiddle while Rome burns,
for the captain to dance while the IT.
tanic sinks. God has called us not
only to salvation, but out of the world.
Come ye out from among them and
be ye separate"
| Angels Unaware.
Pc not forrptful to entertain stran-