Laws Publishing

TIME WITH GOD FOR BUSY PEOPLE

JIM LAWS

We emphasize that everyone should be a part of the church of the New Testament and become an active member. This is certainly a scriptural emphasis. However, there are some members the church can do without, until they repent! Let me explain. For example, consider Demas, a man in love with this present world. The apostle Paul said, “For Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world…” (II Tim. 4:10). What did Paul mean, when he used the word “world?” The word “world” is often translated from “cosmos”, which in the New Testament can mean planet earth, mankind (John 3:16), the sum of temporal possessions (Mt. 16:26), and at times humanity in rebellion against God (John 7:7). There is another Greek word used, “aion”, which refers to “age, or period of time, etc.” This is the word used in II Tim. 4:10, and this is what Demas loved. Sometimes the Bible tells us about the cares of the world; the cares of our day that cause anxiety (Mt. 13:22). The Bible talks about the wisdom of the world; the wisdom that men of a given age have devised (I Cor. 1:20). The Bible refers to the fashion of the world, i.e., its mold, what the world would make of you (Rom. 12:2). The Bible speaks about the god of this world; the service to this age of sin and Satan (II Cor. 4:4). It was these things that Demas loved. He was like the fellow, who was always talking about the “good ole day.” He was in love with the things and the circumstances of that period. In essence all the meanings of “cosmos” are inherent in “aion”…they are the things of this age! Demas was more in love with this world and what it had to offer, than he was with the next world.

Now back to my original statement: the church can do without people like Demas, who are in love with the world…until they repent! You see, the church is the kingdom of heaven, and not of this world! The church is an army of soldiers in a spiritual battle against the world (II Tim. 2:3, 4). The church is a brotherhood of the sons of God, rather than the sons of this world. The church is composed of friends of God, rather than those in a state of enmity with Him (James 4:4). Ideally, the church is a people, who hate the polluting influence of the world and of the flesh (James 1:27). The church is a band of pilgrims, whose home is not this present world, and who are not at home in this present age! What should Demas have done? Demas and all like him should recognize and deal with the root of the problem. Bring the desires for this present world under the control of God, and allow their members to be the instruments of righteousness (Rom. 6:15-23). Refuse to fall in love with the things of this world; realize how little they really offer (Mt. 6:19, 20). Come to love the world that is to come. (Col. 3:1-4).

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