--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Christians must return to the great story…" description: "\"Christians must return to the great story that has its fulfillment in life after death, so we may live and die well in the light of our extraordinary h..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b4/michael-horton-14597_after-death_christians-must-return-to-the-great-stor_3158974.jpg" --- # Christians must return to the great story that has its… ![“Christians must return to the great story that has its fulfillment in life after death, so we may live and die well in the light of our extraordinary hope that enables us to embrace the ordinary lives God gives us here and now.” quote by Michael Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b4/michael-horton-14597_after-death_christians-must-return-to-the-great-stor_3158974.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b4/michael-horton-14597_after-death_christians-must-return-to-the-great-stor_3158974.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b4/michael-horton-14597_after-death_christians-must-return-to-the-great-stor_3158974.jpg) > “Christians must return to the great story that has its fulfillment in life after death, so we may live and die well in the light of our extraordinary hope that enables us to embrace the ordinary lives God gives us here and now.” [Michael Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-horton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Faith should shape both eternal hope and daily living, integrating divine purpose with ordinary life. **In simple terms:** Faith guides both afterlife hope and everyday choices. Key Takeaway Live with hope in both realms. Themes faith hope purpose daily life Mood reflective inspired Type theological motivational When to use this quote - church community - personal decision making - career choices - family life Key Concepts theology existential meaning spiritual integration Questions to Reflect On - How does your daily routine reflect your ultimate hope? - What ordinary moments reveal divine purpose? A Different Perspective Balancing eschatological focus with present responsibilities can be challenging. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [After death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/after-death/) [Christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian/) [Christianity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christianity/) [Christians](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christians/) [Christians Return](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christians-return-1965819/) [Dies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dies/) [Embrace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/embrace/) [Extraordinary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/extraordinary/) [Extraordinary Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/extraordinary-hope-5702178/) [Fulfillment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fulfillment/) [Fulfillment in life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fulfillment-in-life/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Here and now](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/here-and-now/) [Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hope/) [Hope Enables](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hope-enables-5702179/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life after death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-after-death/) [Light](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/light/) [Live and die](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/live-and-die/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [Ordinary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ordinary/) [Ordinary life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ordinary-life/) [Return](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/return/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wells/) ## Related quotes > [Early America does not deserve to be considered uniquely, distinctly or even predominantly Christian... 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Whitney Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-whitney-brown/) > [A horizon is nothing save the limit of our sight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-horizon-is-nothing-save-the-limit-of-our-sight/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [To make sure that my blasphemy is thoroughly expressed, I hereby state my opinion that the notion of a god is a basic superstition,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-randi/to-make-sure-that-my-blasphemy-is-thoroughly-expressed-i-hereby-state/) [James Randi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-randi/) > [It would be fair in terms of justice that those who believe in 'Life After Death' live much less than those who do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/it-would-be-fair-in-terms-of-justice-that-those-who-believe-in-life/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [What makes people want to live forever? I don't think it's limited to our materialistic society of today. Even back to Christian times, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-savage/what-makes-people-want-to-live-forever-i-don-t-think-it-s-limited-to/) [Michael Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-savage/) > [If I believe in God and life after death and you do not, and if there is no God, we both lose when we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/if-i-believe-in-god-and-life-after-death-and-you-do-not-and-if-there/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [I want people to emphasize life before death as opposed to life after death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayaan-hirsi-ali/i-want-people-to-emphasize-life-before-death-as-opposed-to-life-after/) [Ayaan Hirsi Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayaan-hirsi-ali/) > [When we see the many grave-stones which have fallen in, which have been defaced by the footsteps of the congregation, which lie buried under…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/when-we-see-the-many-grave-stones-which-have-fallen-in-which-have/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [You're a religious man, ... You believe in God and life after death. I also believe. When we come to the other world and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-wiesenthal/you-re-a-religious-man-you-believe-in-god-and-life-after-death-i-also/) [Simon Wiesenthal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-wiesenthal/) ## More by Michael Horton > [How can I trust that the Bible is reliable?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-horton/how-can-i-trust-that-the-bible-is-reliable/) [Michael Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-horton/) > [In such a therapeutic, pragmatic, pull-yourself-up-by-your-bootstraps society as ours, the message of God having to do all the work in saving us comes as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-horton/in-such-a-therapeutic-pragmatic-pull-yourself-up-by-your-bootstraps/) [Michael Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-horton/) > [To preach the Bible as 'the handbook for life,' or as the answer to every question, rather than as the revelation of Christ, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-horton/to-preach-the-bible-as-the-handbook-for-life-or-as-the-answer-to/) [Michael Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-horton/) > [My conscience does not render a positive verdict in God’s courtroom when I look inside myself. The only reason I can sleep well at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-horton/my-conscience-does-not-render-a-positive-verdict-in-god-s-courtroom/) [Michael Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-horton/) > [You can't find a YouTube clip to become a craftsman, friend, parent - or disciple of Christ. It's all of grace. 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It’s not only descriptive; it’s effective too, God speaking is God acting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-horton/god-s-word-does-not-merely-impart-information-it-actually-creates/) [Michael Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-horton/) > [Ask the proficient athlete, artist, businessperson, or homemaker what creates excellence and they'll all agree: a commitment to long-term goals - and with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-horton/ask-the-proficient-athlete-artist-businessperson-or-homemaker-what/) [Michael Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-horton/) > [A church that is deeply aware of it's misery and nakedness before a holy God will cling tenaciously to an all sufficient Savior, while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-horton/a-church-that-is-deeply-aware-of-it-s-misery-and-nakedness-before-a/) [Michael Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-horton/) > [The key to maturity is time and community. Discernment and godly wisdom develop in a community that spans generations. The church is called to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-horton/the-key-to-maturity-is-time-and-community-discernment-and-godly/) [Michael Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-horton/) > [If you want to be an athlete, there's no way around it: You have to go to the gym. You can't Google your way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-horton/if-you-want-to-be-an-athlete-there-s-no-way-around-it-you-have-to-go/) [Michael Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-horton/) > [The power of God unto salvation is not our passion for God, but the passion He has exhibited toward us sinners by sending his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-horton/the-power-of-god-unto-salvation-is-not-our-passion-for-god-but-the/) [Michael Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-horton/) > [God is not a supporting actor in our life movie. We exist for his purposes, not the other way around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-horton/god-is-not-a-supporting-actor-in-our-life-movie-we-exist-for-his/) [Michael Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-horton/) [Explore all 46 Michael Horton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-horton/) ## More After death quotes > [The world of imagination is the world of eternity. It is the divine bosom into which we shall all go after death of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-blake/the-world-of-imagination-is-the-world-of-eternity-it-is-the-divine/) [William Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-blake/) > [After death there is nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/after-death-there-is-nothing/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [For days after death hair and fingernails continue to grow, but phone calls taper off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-carson/for-days-after-death-hair-and-fingernails-continue-to-grow-but-phone/) [Johnny Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-carson/) > [ Now they \[the Powers\] have started the aggression, and the extinction of our nation is imminent. If we just fold our arms and yield… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/empress-dowager-cixi/now-they-the-powers-have-started-the-aggression-and-the-extinction-of/) [Empress Dowager Cixi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/empress-dowager-cixi/) > [You're a religious man, ... You believe in God and life after death. I also believe. When we come to the other world and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-wiesenthal/you-re-a-religious-man-you-believe-in-god-and-life-after-death-i-also/) [Simon Wiesenthal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-wiesenthal/) > [And after death something new begins, over which all the powers of the world of death can have no more control.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/and-after-death-something-new-begins-over-which-all-the-powers-of-the/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [If the Soul sees, after death , what passes on this earth , and watches over the welfare of those it loves, then must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-pike/if-the-soul-sees-after-death-what-passes-on-this-earth-and-watches/) [Albert Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-pike/) > [When we see the many grave-stones which have fallen in, which have been defaced by the footsteps of the congregation, which lie buried under…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/when-we-see-the-many-grave-stones-which-have-fallen-in-which-have/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [It is for all men that come into the world once to die; and after death the judgment! And since death is a debt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rumbold/it-is-for-all-men-that-come-into-the-world-once-to-die-and-after/) [Richard Rumbold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rumbold/) > [What we should be after death, we have to attain in life, i.e. holiness and bliss. Here on earth the Kingdom of God begins.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paracelsus/what-we-should-be-after-death-we-have-to-attain-in-life-i-e-holiness/) [Paracelsus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paracelsus/) > [(After death.) So few people who come across, possess awareness of any kind. All they bring along with them are worthless values. All they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-matheson/after-death-so-few-people-who-come-across-possess-awareness-of-any/) [Richard Matheson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-matheson/) > [I think I have fairly heard and fairly weighed the evidence on both sides, and I remain an utter disbeliever in almost all that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-russel-wallace/i-think-i-have-fairly-heard-and-fairly-weighed-the-evidence-on-both/) [Alfred Russel Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-russel-wallace/) > [I want people to emphasize life before death as opposed to life after death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayaan-hirsi-ali/i-want-people-to-emphasize-life-before-death-as-opposed-to-life-after/) [Ayaan Hirsi Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayaan-hirsi-ali/) > [I thought of the priest who'd told me that many religions hold that it is easier to be closely connected to people we love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berg/i-thought-of-the-priest-who-d-told-me-that-many-religions-hold-that/) [Elizabeth Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berg/) > [“And a soul would run by a living being, touch them softly on the shoulder or cheek, and continue on its way to heaven.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-sebold/and-a-soul-would-run-by-a-living-being-touch-them-softly-on-the/) [Alice Sebold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-sebold/) [Browse all 303 After death quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/after-death/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Christians must return to the great story that has its fulfillment in life after death, so we may live and die well in the light of our extraordinary hope that enables us to embrace the ordinary lives God gives us here and now.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Michael Horton" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-horton/christians-must-return-to-the-great-story-that-has-its-fulfillment-in/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "After death" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-horton/christians-must-return-to-the-great-story-that-has-its-fulfillment-in/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b4/michael-horton-14597_after-death_christians-must-return-to-the-great-stor_3158974.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b4/michael-horton-14597_after-death_christians-must-return-to-the-great-stor_3158974.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b4/michael-horton-14597_after-death_christians-must-return-to-the-great-stor_3158974.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Christians must return to the great story that has its fulfillment in life after death, so we may live and…” — Michael Horton", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Michael Horton", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-horton/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Christians must return to the great...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-horton/christians-must-return-to-the-great-story-that-has-its-fulfillment-in/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-horton/christians-must-return-to-the-great-story-that-has-its-fulfillment-in/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```