Living in This World but Not of It: Staying Awake in a Sleeping World
Sabbath School Standing in All the Will of God Lesson 13 - Wednesday Living in This World but Not of It Scripture Reading: Colossians 4:14–15; 2 Timothy 4:10–11 Paul closes his letter to the Colossians with simple greetings, yet they carry deep spiritual weight. He mentions Luke, “the beloved physician,” and Demas—two men who stood near the same apostle but ended very differently. In 2 Timothy , Paul later writes with sorrow that Demas “has forsaken me, having loved this present world,” while Luke remains faithfully by his side. That contrast is sobering. Both men had proximity to truth, exposure to ministry, and opportunity to serve. Yet one clung to Christ, and the other drifted toward the world. Luke is remembered for faithfulness; Demas is remembered as a warning. The difference wasn’t environment—it was affection. Demas didn’t necessarily reject God outright; he simply loved the present world more. That’s the tension every believer faces: living in this world without becomi...