I hate to deny myself things I crave, yet denial forms a foundation to Christian discipleship. Jesus clearly told those who will follow him, If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me (Matthew 16:24).

One of Paul’s fellow missionaries soured on denial. Demas traveled and served with Paul on many of his trips (see Colossians 4:14 and Philemon 24). But eventually Demas deserted the missionary band. Paul says he left because he loved this world. The suffering and hard living and denial rose to the point of exhaustion. Demas tapped out.

I know several people who tapped out in my years of missionary work. To say they loved the world describes them well. Most leave for fewer financial or moral strictures on their life, or they find it easier to acquiesce to the whims of society. They tire of taking up their cross.

I have no doubt Demas ministered faithfully shoulder to shoulder with Paul, but something pulled him away. No one stands above temptation. Even Judas, who spent three years walking alongside Jesus, deserted the King of kings in the end. I don’t look down on Demas, or my Demas-like former colleagues. Except for the grace of God there go I.

Eventually I hope to say like Paul, I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Which reads a lot better when carved into a tombstone than he deserted me.

2 Timothy 4 in reading the Bible cover to cover in 2022

Photo by James Ting