The awesome sense of the greatness of God and the cosmic and eternal proportions of the work that He is doing seems largely absent from Christianity today. Could this be why so many carry the self-imposed burdens of man-made “programs” they are trying to put into effect in order to “live victorious lives” or to “advance the cause of Christ”? When we see that the task is totally beyond our capabilities, then we cease from our striving and begin to allow Him to work in and through us by His mighty power.
Many object to this heavenly/eternal perspective as “pie-in-the-sky in the sweet by-and-by” talk. There are warnings about being so “heavenly minded” that one is of “no earthly good.” We must be practical, so the argument goes, meeting first of all the earthly needs of ourselves and of others and doing our best to make this world a better place for everyone.Yet Christ himself continually turned the focus of His followers from earth to heaven.
Throughout Scripture, we are counseled to live at all times with the understanding that life on this earth is very brief and is followed by an eternal existence of either indescribable bliss in God’s presence or unbearable agony in separation from Him. Peter declares that the knowledge that “the heavens shall pass away with a great noise…[and] the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up” (2 Peter 3:10) causes us to live godly lives. And John adds that the hope of being transformed into His likeness when He shall appear causes us to purify ourselves (1 John 3:2,3). Many would have us believe that self-love is the answer to the world’s ills. Both Christian leaders and the unsaved are teaching and preaching this lie. In fact, it is self-love that has wrought the ills of the world: greed, lust, envy, and strife. What we actually need is a passionate love for God and His Word, turning us from earthly ambitions to heavenly hope. Not even a kingdom ruled by Christ on this earth is our hope, but heaven itself.
Chapters
1. The Necessity of Certainty 2. Of God and Human Destiny 3. Of Bodies and Spirits 4. In Search of the True Faith 5. Shortcut to Truth 6. Facing the Facts 7. Prophetic Proof 8. Concerning Prayer 9. What Is the Gospel? 10. Mercy vs. Works 11. The Call to Discipleship 12. What Is the Christian Life? 13. The Sufficiency of Scripture 14. All the Counsel of God 15. Humility, Accountability, and Awe 16. The Commandment to Love 17. “Love the Lord Your God”’ 18. Knowing and Loving God 19. The Problem of Self-Love 20. The Importance of Understanding the Cross 21. The Cross that Saves Us 22. Victory Over Sin 23. In Everything Give Thanks 24. Understanding the Trinity 25. Understanding the Incarnation 26. Understanding the Church 27. Eternally Secure 28. Are We Living in the Last Days? 29. The Reality of Heaven for the Believer 30. The Believer’s Hope 31. The Bride of Christ
What's new in this book?
This beautiful new hardback edition includes the revised and expanded content of Seeking and Finding God (Dave’s favorite evangelistic book),which was originally derived from an earlier edition of An Urgent Call. This completely redesigned and expanded edition is aimed at believers who understand the times and who desire to be equipped from God’s Word to minister effectively today.“Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.
Librarian’s note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Dave Hunt was an American Christian apologist, speaker, radio commentator and author. He was in full-time ministry from 1973 until his death. A prolific best-selling author, international lecturer, and Bible teacher, his writings have been translated into at least 50 languages. More than four million copies of Dave’s books have been sold. For nearly a decade, Dave also co-hosted a weekly radio program, Search the Scriptures Daily, broadcast on over 400 stations in the U.S. and worldwide.
This is what I regard as the second-most important book I have read since my conversion (no prizes for guessing the best!) It goes in-depth on the Bible, and has plenty of quotable phrases. Even if you don’t read it all, it’s worth getting just for the chapter on Love (agape/agapao). Be warned, though: this is not light reading, and you should have a notebook and pen to hand, as well as a Bible. Dave Hunt wrote an easier-to-read, less in-depth version, called ‘Seeking and Finding God’; I haven’t read that, as this was so good. 10/10!
Notes: Possibly the best book on the Christian life I have ever read. It is the sermon you wish your pastor would preach, one you never tire of hearing because you are convicted and growing each time you hear it. Amazing!
Very thought provoking and timely read compelling me to rely on my Savior and His Word, the Bible, to navigate through the waters of life in these tough times. Many individual chapters are self-contained studies to be used as springboards to deeper understanding of the topic of focus but the entire book reminds us that this world is not our home~ we are just passing through, and should live with our heavenly view and not the self-absorbed lifestyle common to the carnal man. I highly recommend this book!
Even though I did not agree with everything the author said, the book still was a blessing and a challenge to me. Dave Hunt made me think and a lot of what he said convicted me.