2 Timothy 4
2 Timothy 4:1-22 (NKJV)
1 I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom:
2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.
3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers;
4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.
5 But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand.
7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
8 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.
9 Be diligent to come to me quickly;
10 for Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world, and has departed for Thessalonica—Crescens for Galatia, Titus for Dalmatia.
11 Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministry.
12 And Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus.
13 Bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas when you come—and the books, especially the parchments.
14 Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm. May the Lord repay him according to his works.
15 You also must beware of him, for he has greatly resisted our words.
16 At my first defense no one stood with me, but all forsook me. May it not be charged against them.
17 But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the message might be preached fully through me, and that all the Gentiles might hear. Also I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.
18 And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen!
19 Greet Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus.
20 Erastus stayed in Corinth, but Trophimus I have left in Miletus sick.
21 Do your utmost to come before winter. Eubulus greets you, as well as Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brethren.
22 The Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Grace be with you. Amen.
Although it may not seem to be very encouraging – that there would be a falling away from sound doctrine to baseless fables – there is yet a necessity expressed to remain true to the Word alone. It’s only in faithful diligence to the sharing of the Word that there is hope through the challenges that arise. The only real answer we have is a truth that is unfiltered by personal thoughts or emotions. It’s not our reactions or personal care or concern that will bring transformation and change, only the uncompromised Word, unaltered by what is desired. This keeping to the truth in the face of persecution is for the cause of Christ and His church, made up of each and every connection in personal relation. Paul takes each investment into those He has touched very personally. It is the fulfillment of the truth’s purpose – love’s transformation in real lives. For the truth to continue beyond his passing it would require its embrace by those he poured his life into. Although he is pressing to a mark before him, there is great passion for those all around him who will be carrying on where he has left off. It’s from this example that there is direction for us to hold true to a doctrine that might not scratch our ears and fill desires, but establish a hope of continuance of the only thing that will remain through whatever happens – love’s expression in the Word. This faithfulness will also require diligence to those relationships that will extend beyond our ministry to a kingdom purpose way beyond our little realm. Demas’ love of the world that led away from relationship will not affect those who hold true to the truth, its telling, and its transformational effect in love.