LOVING THE WRONG WORLD

2 TIMOTHY 4:10

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I.  DEMAS

 

His life and work, companions.  Energy.  Devotions.

 

Mark - Who is he?

Luke - Who is he?

 

II.  HIS DEFECTION

 

Surprise to friends.

Imagine, when Timothy received this letter.  Personal sorrow.

 

III.  THE REASON FOR HIS DEFECTION.  WE ARE TOLD.

 

Not intellectual doubt.

Not moral sin, failure in character.

 

But love for the world.  Not apostate from the faith.  What he gave up was service and consecration.  Descended to lower level.  Not an uncommon sinner.

 

What go him - the man who dared, endured, finally, beguiled by the blandishments of pleasure.

 

     a.  Lot's wife, a lingering, longing that finally turned his heart.  Her savings, furniture, friends, life.

 

"This world.”

 

3 used of the 4 words.

 

"Having loved."

 

Last the difference.  Love of it just the use of it - a short time a steward then all to God.  But things for things sake.  Loving things, living for things.  What do you do with money?  Time?

 

"This present world."  Evidently, another.  He loved this one: Paul that.  Seen and unseen.

 

He decided - this one, now.  That one, distant, misty.

 

The heartache of every Christian and pastor.

 

     a.  Mrs. Laverne Ester.  Home the other night, drunk, gentleman friend help her up the steps.

 

     b.  Alford Bible class, famous couple, the Alfords, and now, he said to her "Wife, our children grown, married, gone.  We never had any fun.  Let's go to the clubs and learn how to dance. "  But there they are, "those two old fools" - teaching the Bible Class on Sunday, dancing at the club during the week.