Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1922-06-08

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Va ~A great general Of
the cause recruit
cd patriots to its standard In city,
village and hamlet. He came into
Coiosse 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
fine specimen Of Greek youth, edu-
Gated In the subtleties of philosophy,
cultured In the fine aIts of his re-
nowned land, initiated into all it's Sc
crets Of pleasure and enchantment.
stepped out Of the throng. He had
been thrilled by the recital OF brave
deeds, crimsoned by sacrifice and suf-
fering. The appeal Of the heroic fred
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 a staff-officer to the great
general OF the Christian forces. For
several years he shares the honors
of war, the spells of victory, until one
MY 49, ~ bGANC NVhluSl WIFI Tile Cu-
envy the great Commander Ii taken
prisoner and cast into a dungeon. In
Rome to await execution. This was
too much for the gallant young cap
tain. Disappointed, disconsolhte. he
deserted.
General Paul writes letter to Col
onel Timothy Of his staff and tells
him the sad news. What a 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?
|. Demas Was Never a 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 a 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: IF they had been Of us, they
-
Demas is always present In history
Of the church. Thousands under the
spell Of battle songs and enlistment
appeals have protested 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 we're
reported missing.
II. Demas Reveals the Deception Of
the Humcn 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
a 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-
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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.
bewitchery Of this world? Its sights
charm like the mirage, Its sounds en-.
chant like siren voices, its feeting
treasures create a riot of passion, It's
pomp 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 its rightfuI
obligation. To 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 q doomed world where sinners are
going the downward path to hell, is
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for the captain to dance while the III
tanic sinks God has called us not
only to salvation, but out Of the world.
"Come We out from among them and
be We separate"