Demas

The fall of Demas was not overnight; it was gradual. So often we’re ignorant of the signs, the symptoms of worldliness. People can be attending Church singing the songs, apparently listening to the sermons – no different on the outside than they always have been. But inside the person is drifting. He sits in church but is not excited to be there. She sings songs without affection. He listens to preaching without conviction. She hears but does not apply.

C.J. Mahaney describes the drift into worldliness as follows:

A love for the world begins in the soul. It’s subtle, not always immediately obvious to others, and often undetected by the people who are slowly succumbing to its lies. It begins with a dull conscience and listless soul. Sin does not grieve him like it once did. Passion for the Savior begins to cool. Affections grow dim. Excitement lessens for participating in the local church. Eagerness to evangelize starts to wane. Growth in godliness slows to a crawl.

Source: Wordlliness ,edited by C.J. Mahaney,  p 21.