“Demas has deserted me because he loves the things of this life and has gone to Thessalonica.” (2 Timothy 4:10a NLT)
It’s Sunday morning, so I will again try to be succinct, yet still supply you with some counsel, three points of emphasis that you will find beneficial.
First, let’s be transparent. While we will criticize Demas for deserting the Apostle Paul because he loved the things of this life, be honest, we have all deserted the work of the church, perhaps briefly, momentarily, for an instance, and in the case of some, for a long period of time. Yes, still being honest, let us acknowledge that there have been times when we took an unapproved Leave of Absence. But of course, you that are reading this meditation, I’m sure that in your case, something happened, some positive change occurred, and you had a quick turnaround, reversing priorities to return to what you know is of the utmost importance in this life. You had a turnaround, realizing that had you focus on your purpose for still being in the land of the living. Your returned to living what one author called a “Purpose Driven Life.” Look what really happened! You remembered! You resumed the work. You regained great favor with the Lord.
This is not a supposition, but rather a statement of face. Most of us took a “Leave of Absence” at some time in our lives. But praise God, that we found our way back to the work. And yes, this applies to those who never left church physically but stopped being there actively in regard to the life and work of the church. Yes, this also applies to those suffering from Pandemic Church Influenza, but finally broke the chains of the virtual church, singing “Take Me back Dear Lord.” Praise God again for our turnarounds that occurred after our LOA, be it that it was just a little time or one of a long duration. Praise God that He found us useful again! Oh, we serve a merciful God. Right?
The second thing that I want to point out, something that will help faithful church folks when someone, unlike Demas, not one who turns away, but rather being one who has a turnaround or a turnabout, a once faithful worker who has been absent from the church, suddenly returns. Welcome them back. Take advantage of their return, benefit from their change, and find them useful again. Don’t have unending criticism, unloose that tendency by seeing their change, and make them useful in the critical mission of the church and hope that there is not another LOA in the future. Look! The Lord has taken us back from our short-term and long term LOAs! Yes, He has! Look! The Lord has shown us mercy and given us chance after chance. Hasn’t He? Yes, He has!
Third, if you have been on an extended LOA, and you have been loving the things of this life more than loving to serve the Lord and being in His special presence in the sanctuary and being faithful in service, you should make a change today! Rededicate! Redirect your energy! Resume the work! And then, remain useful, again! Forget the LOA and remember the L-O-V-E of Christ, who gave His life to save you! Be blessed!
Committed to the climb,
Mark L. King