This week, pastor Don looks at the 'closing remarks' of the apostle Paul as he finishes up the book of 2 Timothy. Despite Paul's longing for heaven, he also desires human fellowship and so he asks Timothy to come soon. The importance of God's Word is evident too as he asks Timothy to bring 'the parchments', a reference to the Bible. Paul also spends this time reminding Timothy that people had failed him in the past and would likely fail in the future. However, just as Mark had been given another chance, so we are to extend grace and forgiveness to others who have perhaps let us down. Paul doesn't name the particular sin that Demas had been guilty of, except to say that he had 'loved the world'. Something else had replaced the love Demas had for the Lord. It's a sobering warning for each of us, particularly those who have been 'on the road' longer as Christians. We should not think that this might not happen to us. We should be on our guard to make sure that Jesus is foremost in our lives.
