Life Without the Lord: Imagining Our Hopeless State
Scripture compels us to consider our desperate condition without divine intervention – facing spiritual enemies powerless, trapped in sin’s bondage, and destined for eternal separation from God.
Biblical Portraits of Divine Protection
| Situation Without God | God’s Intervention | Scriptural Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Overwhelmed by enemies | “The LORD was on our side” | Psalm 124:2-5 |
| Paralyzed by fear | “I trust in God, I shall not be afraid” | Psalm 56:3-4,9 |
| Condemned by sin | Christ’s atoning sacrifice | Galatians 1:4 |
What We’ve Been Saved From
- Sin’s dominion: Eternal separation from God (Romans 6:23)
- Satan’s power: Continuous bondage to fear (Hebrews 2:14-15)
- Death’s sting: Hopeless existence (1 Corinthians 15:55-57)
- Divine wrath: Just condemnation (Romans 5:9)
Our Present Victory in Christ
- More than conquerors through Him (Romans 8:37)
- Seated with Christ in heavenly places (Ephesians 2:6)
- Assured of eternal security (John 10:28-29)
- Equipped with spiritual armor (Ephesians 6:10-18)
Appropriate Responses
- Daily remembrance of God’s deliverance (Psalm 103:2)
- Confident living in Christ’s victory (1 John 5:4)
- Thankful worship for salvation (Colossians 1:12-14)
- Compassionate evangelism (2 Corinthians 5:18-20)
“The cross turned our ‘what if God wasn’t there’ into ‘because God is here’ – transforming imagined despair into everlasting hope.”
Future Assurance
- Final defeat of all enemies (1 Corinthians 15:24-26)
- Eternal fellowship with God (Revelation 21:3-4)
- Unbreakable union with Christ (Romans 8:38-39)
