Go to the Home page Weekly bulletin article archives

“What Shall Be The End Of Them That Obey Not The Gospel Of God?” – I Peter 4:17

by Micky Galloway

All must pass under God’s judgment, but judgment must begin at the house of God. The Gospel, as a “two-edged sword,” has the double effect of saving some and condemning others. If God brings trials upon those who have obeyed His gospel, what will He bring upon those who are yet in their sins? And if we are selected first as the objects of this visitation, what will occur in the end with those who make no pretensions to obedience, but are yet living in open transgression? If God deals so strictly with His people; if there is that in them which makes the visitations of His judgment proper on them, there is a certainty that they who are not His people, but who live in iniquity, will in the end be subject to His severe wrath. Their punishment hereafter will be certain; and who can tell what will be the measure of its severity? Every wicked man, when he sees the trials which God brings upon His own people, should tremble under the apprehension of the deeper calamity which will hereafter be imposed upon himself.

“What (shall be) the end of them that obey not the gospel of God?” This is the most important question for all of us, for upon its answer depends eternal salvation in heaven or eternal condemnation in hell. To reflect upon the end often serves as a preventive to wrongdoing. When tempted with the first drink of liquor, if one would ask himself, “What will the end of this be?” he might refrain. The end might be the gutter of drunkenness, a broken home, etc. To reflect upon the end often serves as an incentive to right doing. The student in school who looks to the end of the term with its exams and grades, studies harder.

The Bible plainly speaks of an ultimate end. It is sometimes called merely “the end.” “Then (cometh) the end, when he shall deliver up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have abolished all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign, till he hath put all his enemies under his feet” (I Corinthians 15:24-25). It is referred to as the end of the world (Matthew 24:3; cf. II Peter 3:10).

For the faithful Christian it will be the end of his conflict with the flesh. “For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are contrary the one to the other; that ye may not do the things that ye would” (Galatians 5:17). Paul spoke of his need to “buffet my body, and bring it into bondage: lest by any means, after that I have preached to others, I myself should be rejected” (I Corinthians 9:27). It will also be the end of the Christian’s sufferings and trials. The afflictions of this life are “for the moment,” and “worketh for us more and more exceedingly an eternal weight of glory” (II Corinthians 4:17).

For the unfaithful Christian however, it will be the end of God's patience. Of the nation of Israel it is said, “All the day long did I spread out my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people” (Romans 10:21). The day of grace had ended. It will also be the end of God’s exhortations (cf. Romans 12:1f; Ephesians 4:1).

For the unbeliever and disobedient it will be the end of opportunity to be saved. Jesus said, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me” (Revelation 3:20). But, one day He will cease His knocking, and you would give the world for just one more knock. It will certainly be the end of rejection and rebellion. Philippians 2:10 tells of a time, “that in the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of (things) in heaven and (things) on earth and (things) under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” You will bow and confess then, but it will be too late.

It is important that we consider the end, because the end will be the beginning. Though physical existence will end, a new spiritual existence will begin (cf. I Corinthians 15; II Corinthians 5:1). For the saved it will be the beginning of a new life of unspeakable joy (Matthew 25:21), but for the lost, it will be the beginning of an eternity of separation and punishment (Romans 6:23; cf. Luke 16:23; Matthew 8:12). Paul spoke of those who had not obeyed. “And to you that are afflicted rest with us, at the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven with the angels of his power in flaming fire, rendering vengeance to them that know not God, and to them that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus: who shall suffer punishment, (even) eternal destruction from the face of the Lord and from the glory of his might” (II Thessalonians 1:7-9). Though the earth will end, heaven or hell will certainly begin for all eternity (Matthew 25:46).

We must realize the end is nearer than it has ever been before. Paul affirmed, “And this, knowing the season, that already it is time for you to awake out of sleep: for now is salvation nearer to us than when we (first) believed” (Romans 13:11). It may be a day or a thousand years, but it is sooner than it has been. The wisdom writer said, “Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof” (Ecclesiastes 7:8). Peter said, “The latter end is worse with them than the beginning” (II Peter 2:20). Whether the end is better or worse than the beginning depends on the answer to the question, “What shall the end be?” Consider the end and prepare for it.

Go to the Home page Weekly bulletin plus article archives