“Everyone will be forgotten, nothing we do will make any difference, and all good endeavours, even the best, will come to naught. Unless there is God. If the God of the Bible exists, and there is a True Reality beneath and behind this one, and this life is not the only life, then every good endeavour, even the simplest ones, pursued in response to God's calling, can matter forever.”
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Quote Analysis
In this quote by Timothy Keller, he reflects on the idea that without a belief in God, all good endeavors and actions will ultimately be forgotten and meaningless. However, if one believes in the existence of God and a higher purpose, even the simplest actions can have eternal significance. Let's dive deeper into the implications of this perspective.
The Eternal Impact of Good Endeavors
In a world where the idea of making a lasting impact can seem daunting, the words of Timothy Keller remind us of the eternal significance of our actions. He suggests that without the belief in a higher power like the God of the Bible, all our efforts may ultimately be in vain. However, if there is indeed a True Reality beyond this life, then every good deed done in response to a calling from God can have everlasting importance. This perspective can provide motivation and purpose to our everyday actions, knowing that they can have a lasting impact beyond our time on this earth.
Example of Usage
In his book, Timothy Keller contemplates the existential question of the significance of our actions in the grand scheme of things. He argues that without the existence of God, all endeavors are ultimately futile.
Reflection Questions:
In this quote by Timothy Keller, he raises the profound question of the significance of our actions and endeavors in the grand scheme of things. Reflect on the following questions to delve deeper into this thought-provoking idea:
- Do you believe in the existence of a higher power or a True Reality beyond this life?
- How does your belief (or lack thereof) in God or an afterlife impact the way you perceive the significance of your actions?
- Have there been moments in your life where you have felt like your efforts were in vain or meaningless? How might a belief in God and eternity change your perspective on those moments?
- How can the concept of eternal significance influence the way you approach everyday tasks and long-term goals?
- Consider the idea of responding to a calling from God. Have you ever felt a sense of purpose or direction from a higher power in your own life? If so, how did that influence your actions and decisions?
Take some time to reflect on these questions and consider how your beliefs about the existence of God and eternity shape your understanding of the value and impact of your endeavors.
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“For indeed, grace is the key to it all. It is not our lavish good deeds that procure salvation, but God's lavish love and mercy. That is why the poor are as acceptable before God as the rich. It is the generosity of God, the freeness of his salvation, that lays the foundation for the society of justice for all. Even in the seemingly boring rules and regulations of tabernacle rituals, we see that God cares about the poor, that his laws make provision for the disadvantaged. God's concern for justice permeated every part of Israel's life. It should also permeate our lives.”
“God's salvation does not come in response to a changed life. A changed life comes in response to the salvation, offered as a free gift.”
“The material creation was made by God to be developed, cultivated, and cared for in an endless number of ways through human labor. But even the simplest of these ways is important. Without them all, human life cannot flourish.”
“In religion our only hope is to live a life good enough to require God to bless us, so every instance of sin and repentance is therefore traumatic, unnatural and threatening. Only under great duress do religious people admit they have sinned, because their only hope is their moral goodness. In the gospel the knowledge of our acceptance in Christ makes it easier to admit that we are flawed, because we know we won't be cast off if we confess the true depths of our sinfulness. Our hope is in Christ's righteousness, not our own, so it is not as traumatic to admit our weaknesses and lapses.”
“Work is so foundational to our makeup that it is one of the few things we can take in significant doses without harm. Indeed, the Bible does not say we should work one day and rest six or that work and rest should be balanced evenly but directs us to the opposite ratio. Leisure and pleasure are great goods, but we can take only so much of them.”
“The text says that when the Lord saw that Leah was not loved, _he_ loved her. God was saying, 'I am the real bridegroom. I am the husband of the husbandless. I am the father of the fatherless.' This is the God who saves by grace. The gods of moralistic religions favor the successful and the overachievers. THe are the ones who climb the moral ladder up to heaven. But the God of the Bible is the one who comes down into this world to accomplish a salvation and give us a grace we could never attain ourselves.”