For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing. Be diligent to come to me quickly; for Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world, and has departed for Thessalonica—Crescens for Galatia, Titus for Dalmatia (2 Tim 4:6-10).
If you believe in Jesus Christ, you know you have something much better than Social Security. You have eternal security. You know you will never die spiritually, since that is what the Lord Jesus promises to all who simply believe in Him (John 6:35-40; 11:26).
But what will your experience be like in the world to come? Will you have an abundant life? Will you have much treasure with which to serve the Lord Jesus? Is ruling with Christ in the eternal picture for you?
To have abundant life forever, we must fight the good fight, finish the race, and keep the faith.
But how do we fight the good fight, finish the race, and keep the faith?
Paul gave two hints.
First, the crown of righteousness will be for all “who have loved His appearing.” That is the mindset we need.
Second, a man named Demas quit the race because he “loved this present world.” That is the mindset we must avoid.
Demas was a trusted member of the Apostle Paul’s ministry team. Paul said of him, “Epaphras, my fellow prisoner greets you, as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow laborers” (Philemon 23-24). Demas is even mentioned before Luke, author of Luke and Acts! Paul mentions him again in Colossians 4:14, also in a positive light.
Yet Paul tells us in 2 Tim 4:10 that “Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world.”
Loving this present world leads to a failure to persevere. Loving the Lord’s appearance and the world to come leads to perseverance.
How do we use our time, talent, and treasure? For this present world or for the world to come?
Paul spoke of “that Day” when Jesus, “the righteous Judge,” will evaluate how we have lived and recompense us accordingly (2 Tim 4:6-8). “That Day” is the Judgment Seat of Christ, when every Christian will be evaluated according to his or her deeds as a Christian (Rom 14:10; 2 Cor 5:10).
May we be like the Apostle Paul, who fought the good fight, finished the race, and kept the faith. May we not be like Demas, who started well but got off track because he loved the present world. May we put our affection where it belongs: on the Lord Jesus and His coming kingdom.
Keep grace in focus.
