Five Notable Men

ARISTARCHUS

The name of Aristarchus is linked with that of the Apostle Paul, as a companion in travel, a fellow-worker and a fellowprisoner. Surely his is an honoured place in the list of New Testament worthies.

A native of Thessalonica, he was one of that city who had "received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit," and soon became associated with the Apostle in the work of the Lord. At Ephesus, amid the confusion raised by Demetrius, Aristarchus was seized and it is possible that only the timely intervention of the town-clerk saved his life. When Paul had appealed unto Caesar, and in the custody of a centurion set sail for Rome, Aristarchus was still his companion in travel. He knew what it was to share with the Apostle the perils of the sea. "Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land that they may dwell with me" (Psalm 101. 6) were the words of King David, and it can be truthfully said that in the case of Aristarchus he proved himself worthy of the companionship and confidence of the Apostle. A high tribute is paid to him when linked with John-Mark, and Justus, the Apostle says, "My fellow-workers unto the kingdom of God, men that have been a comfort unto me" (Colossians 4. 11). These were not words of flattery, for the Apostle was ever truthful in his commendations. What shall be said of us? are we companions of those that fear the Lord? Is our chief object to be fellowworkers unto the kingdom of God?

DEMAS

Demas calls to mind the words of a great English writer, "The evil that men do lives after them; the good is oft interred with their bones." Demas stands out prominently as one who failed in the crisis, and is, in consequence, a beacon of warning. Yet Demas had a good record in the past; there had been days in which he was of no small service in the Lord's work.

When the letter to the Colossians was dictated in the Roman prison, the Apostle was able to say, "Luke the beloved physician, and Demas salute you" (Colossians 4. 14), and in the words already quoted-in the letter to Philemon, he enjoys a place of honour as a "fellow-worker." He had stood side by side with Paul and must have witnessed the mighty power of God in seeing many turn to the Lord. He had known sweet fellowship with other valiant workers for God and must have possessed some of their intense zeal. But alas ! when the trial was at its height, and his help would have been specially useful, the Apostle had to write to Timothy, "Do thy diligence to come shortly unto me; for Demas forsook me, having loved this present world, and went to Thessalonica "(2 Timothy 4. 10). As one ponders the words "forsook me," how sad they seem! And the writer must have penned them with a heavy heart.

"Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world" is the warning of the Apostle John. Like a powerful 'magnet the world had attracted Demas, and where Christ had once possessed his love, the world now holds the premier place-alas, alas! We are not told what phase of the world's activities had attracted him; the silence of the Apostle on this point is worth noting. He loved ! He forsook! He went!

In a day like the present when the world is exercising tremendous influence toward Christians, we do well to remember the searching and solemn words-" Whosoever therefore would be a friend of the world maketh himself an enemy of God" (James 4. 4).

LUKE.

"Only Luke is with me" (2 Timothy 4. 11). All that are in Asia may turn away, Demas may forsake the Apostle, but the "beloved physician" remained at his side. It is remarkable that the Lord always has such men as Luke to step into the breach when the stoutest hearts have failed. When David. fled from Absalom, Barzillai the Gileadite, a very great man, dared in a dark day to provide David with sustenance. When we consider the greatest crisis of all-the death of the Lord Jesus Christ, we find that though Joseph of Arimathean might fear the Jews during the life of the Lord, and Nicodemus be unwilling to associate openly with His disciples, yet when the critical moment arose they were prepared to identify themselves with "the Nazarene" in death, and reverently they took the body of the Lord Jesus and laid it in Joseph's new tomb. "Them that honour Me I will honour, and they that despise Me shall be lightly esteemed " (1 Samuel 2. 80) is an unalterable principle.

What a comfort Luke must have been in those trying days! His faithful, loving ways, constrained the Apostle to write of him as "the beloved physician." Surely a devoted servant of the Lord and true fellow-worker!

In closing our brief survey of what is recorded of these five men, concerning four of them one is reminded of the words found in Hebrews 13. 7- "Considering the issue of their life (their manner of life, R.V.M.) imitate their faith."

unknown | Apr 1933
Five Notable Men