9-10 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. 11 Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry. 12 Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus. 13 When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, also the books, and above all the parchments. 

14-15 Alexander the coppersmith did me great harm; the Lord will repay him according to his deeds. Beware of him yourself, for he strongly opposed our message. 16 At my first defence no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me. May it not be charged against them! 17 But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me . . . 2 Timothy 4:9-17 English Standard Version.

It's sometimes said we only find out who our true friends are when we are faced with a huge problem or a dangerous situation. That certainly happened to Paul. He was in a Roman prison and had already faced at least one trial. At such trials a guilty verdict could result in being thrown to the lions in the arena. So why did Paul long for Timothy to come to him? (vs 9-10 & 16)

He had been deserted by many friends who ought to have stood by him. We do don't know all the details. He speaks of Crescens and Titus who went to Galatia and Dalmatia respectively. We don't know for sure if it was flight on their part, or whether they left to go back to Churches in those cities to carry on the gospel work. It seems as if flight may have been involved. The case of Demas is more clear. He fled because he was 'in love with this present world'.

Again we aren't given all the details. Paul doesn't actually say that Demas deserted Christ – though that sadly seems implied. But Demas loved the world so much he wasn't willing to leave it. The apostle John wrote “Don't love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world - the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions - is not from the Father but is from the world.” (1 John 2:15-16)

The words of Jesus also come to mind where He said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?” (Matthew 16:24-26) It's not that Christians desire martyrdom - Paul was ready to make a defense - but we must be willing to die rather than to deny and desert Christ.

Which brings us to the dear man named Luke. Apart from writing his gospel account of Christ, he had faithfully accompanied Paul on many of his missionary travels and now we find him still by Paul's side. Oh to be such a friend to God's people. And then there's Mark. (vs 11) Very probably the same person Paul had once been so disappointed with because he had fearfully let the team down on one of the missionary journeys. (Acts 15:37-38) A reminder that failing once doesn't mean we will fail forever. A reminder too of the part forgiveness plays in friendships.

Being deserted by many friends and facing the ordeal of his trial alone must have been painful for Paul. What was it that helped him to get through those days, and to not even be bitter towards those who had let him down? (vs 17)

He knew that Christ was with him! He doesn't tell us if Christ gave him a special revelation of that presence, but he probably claimed the Old Testament promise given to Joshua when God said: “I will NEVER leave you or forsake you!” The writer of Hebrews applied that promise to Christians and said “Therefore we can confidently say, the Lord is my helper, I will not fear what man can do to me.” (Hebrews 13:5-6)

God willing I'll comment on Alexander's opposition and Paul's request for a cloak, books and parchments next time. But for today, let's rejoice in what a faithful friend we have in Jesus!