If your heart takes more pleasure in reading novels, or watching TV, or going to the movies, or talking to friends, rather than just sitting alone with God and embracing Him, sharing His cares and His burdens, weeping and rejoicing with Him, then how are you going to handle forever and ever in His presence…? You’d be bored to tears in heaven, if you’re not ecstatic about God now!
Keith Green
I would like to add that the fast paced, pleasure seeking country we live in has really brought this quote to life.
If God made this earth and everything that is in it, including us, how can man feel this way that Keith was referring to?
I see most people feeling this way and that’s why they are chasing after this world.
To think that the world would have more to offer than our Lord is just a matter of not seeking Him. I can look back on my own life and before I turned the reigns over to Him, I made things unhappy, stressful, and my life was nowhere mess.
Don’t buy the lie. The lie has been for sale for 6,000 years. The serpent and Devil has been selling this untruth for anyone willing to buy.
What are going to seek? The other lie is that you can live one way and still be fine in the other. The New Testament warnings do not indicate that. Either to not know Him at all;
Matthew 7:21-13 – 21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’
or to be saved, but all works burnt up, can’t be the goal Christians will want to have come the Judgment.
1 Corinthians 3:11-15 – 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13 his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man’s work. 14 If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. 15 If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.
Seek the Lord! You will find that the more you seek Him and truly know Him better, the more you will understand what Keith Green is saying. You will also find the true reason you were created and will get back on the path God had intended for you.
If you take time to seek Him, he’ll still give you some time to enjoy those special things you enjoy. You just won’t be making them the priority of your life and forgetting the most important.
Ron
June 5, 2011 at 11:03 am
I’m not a huge fan of this quote from Keith Green although I know what he’s trying to portray and the main point of the quote………we should be chasing after our Lord, not the enticements of the world.
What I don’t like about the quote is that it gives some the impression that we shouldn’t be spending our time hanging out with others or enjoying life. I think talking with our friends is a part of connecting with them to draw them closer to God. Now we could waste that time with useless talk about things, but every word doesn’t have to be about the Word in order for our interaction to be pleasing to Him. Maybe He will use us to attract others to Him via our conversation.
Secondly, I’m not convinced that every moment of Eternity will be spent conversing with God, rejoicing or mediating. We have put too small of a meaning around the words “conversing” ” rejoicing” and “meditating” He is remaking a new Earth for us. There are some pretty amazing things here on Earth right now (hiking in the mountains, enjoying a drift down the river on a boat and many other enjoyments in his creation), so don’t you think its reasonable to believe the New Earth will be even more spectacular? I do.
So lets keep our eye on him and spend our time wisely here interacting with others so they will ask us, “Why are you so joyful? Why are you different than the rest of the people I know? Why are you not complaining all the time? Why are you so hopeful?” Jesus will use us to draw people to him and that will be the enjoyment of the day.
So if anyone feels guilty after reading Keith Green’s quote, I have a couple recommendations. First get into His book and read the word. His word will be our encouragement and blessing. Secondly, read Randy Alcorn’s book “Heaven” and it will give you a whole new excitement for what eternity is going to be about. That excitement will spur you to live more for him today.
Thanks Pat for continually spuring our thought through this website.