Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1922-08-30

sM"6e uuu nalnlet. lie came into
Colosse one day and gathered
crowd In the market place. lie told
the story Of the awful conflict rag.
tng-he called for volunteers-a
tne specimen Of Greek youth edu-
Gated In the subtleties Of philosophy,
cultured In the fine arts Of his re-
no"ned land; Initiated into oil It's Sc
crets OF pleasure and enchnntment,
stepped out Of the throng. lie had
peen thrilled by the recital Of brave
deeds, crlmsCned by sacrifice and suf-
fering. The appeal Of the heroic fired
his soul; burning desire was kindled
10 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.
lie became a staf-ofiicer to the great
general Of the Christian forces. For
several years he shares the honors
OF war, the spoils Of victory, until one
day III fierce conflict with the en-
emy the great Commander Is taken
prisoner and cast into dungeon in
Rome to await execution. This was
too much for the gallant young cap
tain. Disappointed disconsolate, he
deserted.
General Paul writes q letter to Col
onel Timothy Of his staff and tells
him the sud news. What tragedy
lie has fought side by side with the
greatest and grandest Of soldiers. he
has shared the trlumphs 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?
J.. Demas 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 full.
ter; may even be defeated in battle,
but he can never, never desert. De-
sertiOn Is the proof Of n 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 expert
ence. When referring to the multitude
Of disciples who deserted Jesus, he
says: "1f 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 ctime, they were
reported missing.
u. Demas Reveals the Deception Of
the Human Heart.
1t Is possible to so closely resemble
Christian that only God can tell the
difference. Wheat and tarcs look ex.
actly alike until harvest. Soldiers
wear the same uniform, fight under
the same banner. follow tho 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 g0tllincss, lifclcss and worth
less. The more nearly the counterfeit
resembles the genuine, the greater the
deception. Hundreds Of unconverted
people have been deceived! A pro.
fcssi0n, uniform, dress parade,
battle have been the boast Of dis
cipleship, but their name Is Demas,
for when wounds, bloodshed and sac.
riilce came. they deserted.
~. Demas Shows the Subtle Attrac.
tlon Of the World.
Who can deny the fascination, the
bewltchery Of this world2 It's sights
charm like the mirage, Its sounds en-.
chant like siren voices, Its nceting
treasures create riot Of passion, its
romp and pride intoXicate the soul.
Demas loved the world; 1t 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 rlghtful
obligation. 10 follow the worlds
maxims and principles Is to discount
the Word Of God and the guidance of
His Spirit. TO live for good time
in 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 We out from among them and
bo ye separate"
Angels Unaware.
Io FIJI n nj ck,