Weekly Devotion
Do your best to come to me soon. For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia. Luke alone is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry. Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus. When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, also the books, and above all the parchments.—2 Timothy 4:9-13
Loneliness is a big obstacle to perseverance. I don’t know what’s going on in your heart and life today, but I wonder how many people reading this are feeling lonely. Everybody goes through loneliness at some point in life—even the apostle Paul. Sometimes you can feel isolated in a crowd. “Who really understands me? How many people do I know that have really walked the road that I'm walking?” Loneliness is definitely an obstacle to perseverance.
As Paul is winding down his second letter to Timothy, he writes, “Do your best to come to me soon” (v.9). Now that is a pretty vulnerable request. Paul is nearing the end of his life. Timothy has been his young protégé, now probably in his early forties, a faithful, successful pastor. Paul said, “Man, I don’t mind telling you that I need you a.s.a.p!” Paul had not hidden from Timothy the affection he had for him (see 1 Timothy 1:2 and 2 Timothy 1:2). If you have ever hurried to the bedside of a dying relative, then you understand that Paul did not want to die alone. Paul was experiencing loneliness.
Notice other contributing factors. “For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me” (v.10). This didn’t mean that Demas loved material things. It means that he was afraid of being a martyr and paying the price that Paul was going to pay. Have you ever had people abandon you because of your commitment to following Christ? Others (Crescens and Titus) hadn’t deserted, but were gone and Paul felt their absence keenly. How tender the words in verse 11: “Only Luke is with me.” Luke’s faithful, solitary presence highlighted Paul’s isolation.
Paul added, “Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me in ministry” (v.11b). That request is amazing, since years before, Mark had been like Demas and abandoned the team (see Acts 13:13; 15:36-41). Paul and Barnabas had a split over giving Mark another chance. But Mark and Paul eventually reconciled, as seen in Paul’s longing for him.
God means for us and has given us grace to persevere in all things. Christ told us that two things that really speak to me every time I begin to feel like I am doing this thing called my "walk" all alone.
He told us first that He wishes for us to have life and life more abundant. (John 10:10) It's a fact that the enemy will always try to rob, kill, and destroy. That's his plan. God has a greater plan in that scripture...the abundant life. We just have to hold on to the promise that he will deliver us from every trial.
Secondly, Christ said that He will never leave us nor forsake us (Deu 31:6 and Hebrews 13:5). What an awesome promise that when the dearest on earth to you seem to leave you by the way side that Christ is always there with you. It is in Him and through Him and His power that we are able to persevere.
The challenge of perseverance involves the reality that we will have to live through loneliness. Human friendships are part of God’s gift to us. He will also be with us in that valley.
