The End

By Clifton Angel
    Sometimes when we think about the end of the year, our minds our led to thoughts about the end of our lives or the end of time. Forty verses in the New Testament contain the phrase "the end.” We will not consider all of them, but without much commentary, let us consider a few passages of exhortation concerning "the end.”
    “Ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved” (Matthew 10:22).    “For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:20–23).    “For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister. And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end” (Hebrews 6:10–11).    “Gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ as obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy” (1 Peter 1:13–16).    We do not know when the end of our lives, nor the end of time will be, but both are coming. Let us be exhorted to endure in the midst of persecution (cf. Matthew 10:22). Let us be exhorted to bear fruit unto holiness, as servants of God (cf. Romans 6:20–23). Let us be exhorted to labor in love in full assurance of hope (cf. Hebrews 6:10–11). Let us be exhorted to strengthen our minds, be sober, have hope, be obedient, and conduct ourselves in a holy manner (cf. 1 Peter 1:13–16).

- Clifton Angel preaches for the Coldwater Church of Christ in Coldwater, MS. He may be contacted through that congregation's website: http://www.coldwatercofc.com/