Songs In The Night

¹⁰ For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica…Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry. – 2 Timothy 2:10a & 11b.

Race Time

Talk about a humbling experience.  I have been following a running schedule to prepare for a half-marathon to be run over Labor Day weekend.  Per my schedule I was to run a 5k race this weekend.  So, I decided to run a road race before church yesterday morning.

Having done this (running races) a few times I thought I was well prepared.  My “racing” outfit was laid out the night before.  I was careful about what I ate the day prior to the race and made sure I was in bed at a decent time to allow for sufficient sleep.  When you’re old and slow such routines become more important.

Since I was unfamiliar with the course I made sure I arrived at the race sight early.  Although I had no misconceptions about winning the race I thought I should briefly review a copy of the course just because.  Unfortunately, either the copy machine was spilling toner or the aerial view was taken at night.  Even if I was wearing my glasses the map would have been difficult to read.  But I got the gist of the course.  It was a simple out and back.  Run out to a half way point and turn around.  How hard could that be?

Head Start?

The 5k race I was running was not the only race at this venue.  A half an hour before the start of the 5k race, a half-marathon began.  We would use the same start and finish line which is common.  Since I had arrived early I decided to watch the start of the first race and scan the runners for familiar faces.  Those that I have met and created bonds with through previous races.

As I approached the Start/Finish line I was carrying my bib number for the second race.  Innocently, one of the spectators mistook me for an entrant in the half-marathon.  Since the race was about to begin and the participants were already “toeing” the line this spectator asked if I was giving the rest of the field a head start.  Naturally, I informed the mistaken spectator that I would be running the second race.  But little did I know his question would be somewhat prophetic.

Whoops

Before the start of the race, we were informed that there would be no pace bike.  Again, even though I knew I wouldn’t be leading the pack, the thought of no “guide” made me a little uneasy.  But lead bike or not, the race started without a hitch.  Little did I know I was minutes away from my humbling experience.

With about a little over a quarter of a mile left in the race, I found myself in third place.  Which says more about the field than my talent, but at my age I was looking forward to a top three finish.  The finish of the race was in front of a school.  As I was running on the backside of the school a course guide instructed me that up ahead the half-marathoners were to make a right turn and the 5k runners were to go straight.  Unfortunately, at the end of the road, straight wasn’t an option.  I had to choose between left or right.  Which was really a choice between right or wrong.

Unfortunately I made two very quick and very wrong assumptions.  Number one, obviously the guide would know the course better than me.  Number two, although going straight wasn’t an option, the guide would not have made a distinction between the participants of the two races if everybody was to make the same turn.  Hence when she said straight, she must have meant left.

Wrong Way Demas

How could a person work alongside the Apostle Paul and then desert him for the love of the world?  As we see in today’s text, that is exactly what Demas did.  When Paul penned Colossians (4:14)  and Philemon (v. 24), Demas was listed as a fellow worker.  Now, shortly before his execution, Paul is lamenting to his protege the fact that Demas has left the course.  He has taken a wrong turn.

Paul’s letter to the church in Colossae, was written roughly five years prior to his letter to Timothy.  At that time Paul was imprisoned just as he was when he wrote to Timothy.  Demas knew the importance of faithfully running the race.  He certainly knew the risks and rewards.  What went wrong?

A Costly Affair

Paul doesn’t articulate or expand on what happened with Demas.  He simply tells us that he was in love with the present world.  Did he look to make financial gain from the wealthy city of Thessalonica?  After the difficulties of “church” work did he crave the comfort and excitement a cultured city?  Was he looking for something else Thessalonica could offer or was he just seeking safety?

Regardless of the specifics, one thing is very clear.  The charge Paul was making against Demas was very serious.

¹⁵ Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. ¹⁶ For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. ¹⁷ And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever. – 1 John 2:15-17

Separate Ways

After lamenting being deserted by Demas, Paul asks for Mark who he deems to be useful to his ministry.  This is ironic following his charge against Demas for deserting him, because as Luke records in Acts chapter 13, Mark was once guilty of doing the same thing.  In the midst of missionary campaign with Paul, Barnabas, and their companions, Mark left them at Pamphylia to return to Jerusalem.

Like Demas, we are not sure why Mark left Paul.  But we do know Paul was greatly upset.  As Luke records in Act chapter 15, when Paul and Barnabas decide to visit their church plants they have a sharp disagreement.  Barnabas wants to include Mark on the trip, whereas Paul does not.  He was stung once by Mark and didn’t want to be stung again.

The disagreement was so strong that Paul and Barnabas separated, with Paul now traveling with Silas and Barnabas traveling with Mark.

Welcome Back Mark

In time, Mark would prove his faithfulness, and God would bless the work of both sets of men.  Thankfully, despite their disagreements and disillusionment, they continued serving God.

Paul must have been proud as he penned these words about Mark.  But not only Paul.  Luke, who recorded the unpleasant history between Mark and Paul was with Paul as he wrote this letter to Timothy.  I am sure this reconciliation was a balm for the heart of this faithful physician.

And how about Barnabas?  When Paul was adamant that Mark had burned all bridges, Barnabas was willing to build a new one, even at the expense of opposing and offending the spiritual giant Paul.

“Get Mark…he is very useful to me.”

Finish Well

When I realized the error I had made I once again was faced with two options.  I could drop out of the race and avoid embarrassment, or I could turn around and finish what I had started.

To say I was not happy would be an understatement.  Although it wasn’t technically a head start, despite my training and race preparation, I am not talented enough to spot the field such an advantage.  A top three finish and a respectable time were now out of the question.  But such is life.  Mistakes happen.  But as we learn from Mark, there is always hope.

After Demas started well, he finished poorly.  At least from the last that is recorded of him.  To the contrary, Mark finished well after starting poorly.  Me, on the other hand; after I started well…well I finished.

Things will not always go our way.  Many if not most things that we confront are out of our control.  But stay the course.  Beware of the love of the world and keep your eyes on Christ.  As long as we follow Christ we will be in the Father’s will.  As long as we remain in the Father’s will we will never get lost.  

Jesus is the way (John 14:6), and there is no other.

If you are going to run a race, it is always comforting to have a guide.