Quotes from Randy Alcorn

Imagination is a God-given gift; but if it is fed dirt by the eye, it will be dirty. All sin, not least sexual sin, begins with the imagination. Therefore what feeds the imagination is of maximum importance in the pursuit of kingdom righteousness." —D. A. Carson

It's possible for someone to act sacrificially and selflessly in the best interests of others while enjoying the fruit: feeling good about having done well and receiving God's approval and reward.

Learning requires curiosity, exploration, evaluation, and dialogue. To be granted the product of knowledge without this process would violate what it means to be a creature.

For Christians, this present life is the closest they will come to Hell. For unbelievers, it is the closest they will come to Heaven.

The devil specializes in rearranging price tags, making the cheap look valuable and the miserable appear happy. (For example, if, before the purchase, people saw photos of themselves after five years of using methamphetamines, would they still buy them?)

How we spend our time verifies what we value most: TV, the Internet, or God's Word?

What we do with a little time, a little talent, and a little money tells God a lot.

Atheism is an empty cup crying out to be filled, while religion is an empty cup appearing to be filled.

When will we learn that God doesn't give us greater wealth to increase our standard of living, but to increase our standard of giving?

The fear of God is a profound respect for His holiness, which includes a fear of the consequences of disobeying Him.

So look out a window. Take a walk. Talk with your friend. Use your God-given skills to paint or draw or build a shed or write a book. But imagine it - all of it - in its original condition. The happy dog with the wagging tail, not the snarling beast, beaten and starved. The flowers unwilted, the grass undying, the blue sky without pollution. People smiling and joyful, not angry, depressed, and empty.

The principle is timeless: If Christ is not Lord over our money and possessions, he is not our Lord.

How Can We Know for Sure That We'll Go to Heaven?

Being happy in God and living righteously tastes far better for far longer than sin does. When my hunger and thirst for joy is satisfied by Christ, sin becomes unattractive. I say no to immorality not because I hate pleasure but because I want the enduring pleasure found in Christ.

Montaigne said something that rings true for many of us: "My life has been full of terrible misfortunes, most of which never happened.

An unholy world will never be won to Christ by an unholy church.

We don't like to think about death; yet, worldwide, 3 people die every second, 180 every minute, and nearly 11,000 every hour. If the Bible is right about what happens to us after death, it means that more than 250,000 people every day go either to Heaven or Hell.9 David said, "Show me, O Lord, my

Nothing is more poisonous than the spirit of entitlement that permeates our culture and sometimes, sadly, our churches.

Forgiveness is a matter of choice, not feelings. We demonstrate true forgiveness when we refuse to brood over the sins committed against us.

God is the owner of all things, and we are simply his stewards.

We should thank God for every stream of joy in our lives while recognizing that Christ is the ocean from which every stream flows.

Life on earth is a dot, a brief window of opportunity; life in Heaven (and ultimately on the New Earth) is a line going out from that dot for eternity. If we're smart, we'll live not for the dot, but for the line.

Too often we assume that God has increased our income to increase our standard of living, when his stated purpose is to increase our standard of giving.

Ever seen that bumper sticker "He who dies with the most toys wins"? Millions of people act as if it were true. The more accurate saying is "He who dies with the most toys still dies—and never takes his toys with him." When we die after devoting our lives to acquiring things, we don't win—we lose. We move into eternity, but our toys stay behind, filling junkyards. The bumper sticker couldn't be more wrong.