Tell Archippus: “See to it that you complete the ministry you have received in the Lord.”
Colossians 4:17 NIV
We are living in the end times, and therefore, we must act accordingly. The urgency of the hour demands more than casual Christianity. It calls for intentional obedience, spiritual alertness, and unwavering commitment to the assignment God has entrusted to us. In Colossians 4:17, Paul delivers a striking instruction: “See to it that you complete the work you have received in the Lord.” Although this message was addressed to a specific individual, the Spirit preserved it for us. Consequently, it speaks not only to Archippus but also to every believer who has received Christ and carries His name.
The instruction is clear. Complete the work. Not admire it or postpone it. Not begin it and abandon it. Complete it. When we received Christ as Lord and Saviour, we did not only receive salvation; we also received responsibility. We received the ministry of reconciliation. As Scripture affirms, God reconciled us to Himself through Christ and then entrusted us with the message of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:18-19). Therefore, we now stand as instruments in His hands, called to reconcile men back to the Father.
In these end times, this work carries even greater urgency. The Lord counts on us to intercede for nations, to proclaim truth boldly, and to disciple men faithfully. He has committed to us the sacred task of pointing hearts back to Him. However, this assignment requires more than enthusiasm. It requires endurance and demands discipline. It calls for completion.
We cannot afford complacency. We cannot drift through life while carrying an unfinished mandate. Instead, we must live with the consciousness that we are running a race. Every day presents an opportunity either to advance the Kingdom or to waste precious time. Therefore, we must choose diligence over distraction and obedience over comfort.
Today, we are that Archippus. We are the ones who have received a charge in the Lord. And because we have received it in the Lord, we must complete it in the Lord. Our strength comes from Him, our direction flows from Him, and our ability to finish rests in Him.
So this is the charge: see to it that you complete the work you have received in the Lord. Guard your calling. Honour your assignment. Run your race with focus. And above all, refuse to stop halfway.
Living It Out
To live with end-time awareness means we examine our lives regularly and align our priorities with eternity. It means we pray intentionally for the salvation of others, disciple faithfully where God has placed us, and steward every opportunity to represent Christ well. Furthermore, it means we resist spiritual laziness and choose daily obedience, even when no one applauds our efforts.
Completion does not happen accidentally. It happens when we commit, persevere, and depend wholly on the grace of God. The Lord has entrusted you with a work. Therefore, do not treat it lightly. See to it that you complete the work you have received in the Lord. The end times demand finishers, not spectators. Complete the work you have received in the Lord.