The Apostle Paul did not have a great start in Scripture.  He came upon the biblical scene as a zealot whose ministerial ambition was to destroy the church of Jesus Christ.  However, upon his conversion, he became the chief advocate of the very church he once sought to destroy. In the closing chapter of his life, he wrote, “For I am now ready to be offered and the time of my departure is at hand.  I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:6-7).  Paul had a lousy start, but a great finish.

     In those closing remarks, Paul mentioned a man by the name of Demas.  Demas was a co-laborer in the work of the Lord.  Demas started out strong in the Lord but failed to stay on course.  Paul wrote of this man, “For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica” (2 Timothy 4:10). Demas had a great start, but a lousy finish.

    Somewhere in the journey, Demas became mesmerized and distracted by the world around him.  He took his eyes off the eternal, and placed them on the temporal.  As a result, he will forever be remembered as a man who finished poorly.   Consistency is the key to crossing the finish line in good standing with God.