Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1922-07-15

WI W ~ ~ sTtdt EeHeTdi VI
the cause recruit
ed patriots 10 H. standard In city,
village and hamlet lie came into
Colosse one day and gathered a
crowd IN the market place. He told
the story of the awful conflict rag
ing-hc called for yoluntcers-and Il
tine specimen Of Greek youth. edu-
Gated in the suhtlcties Of philosophy.
cultured ~ the fine arts of his re-
uowned land. Initiated into all its Sc
creis Of pleasure and enchaniment.
stepped ont 81 the thrnu. He had
been thrilled hy tie recital Of brave
deeds. crimscnod rs sacrifice and sur
IerlnG. The appeal Of the heroic fired
his soul; a burning desire was kindled
"a follow This great leader He en-
listed beneath The banner Of the cross
He >wore allegiance 10 the Christ Of
Calvary. He LEFT home ana kindred
He became a stuit-oilicer to the great
general of the Christian forces. For
several years he shares the houors
~ war the spells Of victory until one
day in u fierce conflict with the en-
rmy the great Commander is taken
prisoner and east into II dungeon in
koine to await execution. This was
ton much TOR the gallant young cap
'nin. Disappointed, discousolaie, he
deserted
General Paul writes letter 10 Col
oncl Timothy If his stan ana tells
him the sad news What tragedy
He hn~ fought side ty side with the
greatest ANA grandcst ii soldiers he
has shared the triumph, If the cross
from Antioch t. Rome. then he dessert
ed Ia the ranks uf the enemy. forSak-
ing Christ for the world No wonder
the heart of the apostle Is almost
broken II seems we can hear the
sob Of his sorrow IN these words:
How can we account for this de
>ertion:
|. Demas Was Never True Soldier.
A true soldier fights until peace Is
proclaimed or death rewards his fHith-
fitness. He may lose courage al times
when hard pressed may doubt and fal-
ter: may even be defeated in battle.
but he can never never desert. De .
Sertion is the proof OF superficial
motive, the result If an attachment.
Ills heart. soul. will. life. have moi
been abandoned 10 the cause The
Apostle John has explained this expert
ence When referring 10 the multitude (
Of disciples who deserted Jesus. he /
says: IF they had been of US, they .
would not have gone out from us"
pemas Is always present in History
of the church. Thousands under the
spell Of battle songs and enlistment
apleas 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.
u. Demas Reveals the Deception OF .
the Human Heart.
II is possible to SO closely resemble .
II Christian that only God can tel the .
difference Wheat and tareS look eX-
acily alike until harvest. Soldiers
wear the same uniform. fight under
the same banner. follow the same com.
mnnder until the crisis comes. then
one sticks. the other deserts. Satan's (
campaign i one az deception. He /
seeks ta deceive men and women with ,
form If sodlinesS lifeless and worth. /
less The more nearly the counterfeit, .
resembles ;he genuine. the greater the I
deception. Hundreds OF unconverted /
people have been deceived pro.
fcssion. uniform. dress parade (
battle have been the boast ~ dis.
ciplcShp, hut their name is Demas. !
for when wounds hloodshed and sac 7
rifce came. they deserted
III. pemas Shows the Subtle Attrae. /
tion Of the World.
Who can deny the fascination the
bewitchery Of this worldi Its sights
charm like the mirage, it, sounds en-
chant like siren voices, lis ncetinr
treasures create riot If passion It's
pomp and pride inioNicate the soul
pemas loved HE world; il WAS fntal
lie never really opened his heart TO
the love Of eternal things III 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 10 deny heaven its righiful
obligation. To follow the worlds
maxims and principles is 10 discount
the Word az God anG the guidance at
His Spirit To live for good time
in doomed world where sinners are
going the downward path To he'll, is
for Nero Ia fiddle while Rome burns.
for thu. captain a. dance while the IT.
tanic sinks. God has called us moi
only 10 salvation. hut out Of the world
come W ont from among them and