My Answer

It’s possible to live a good life without God — at the expense of the ultimate joy

Q. : Our neighbors are some of the kindest and most moral people we know, and yet they don’t have any use for God. Unfortunately, another neighbor claims to be a Christian, but is one of the grumpiest people I’ve ever met. How do you explain this? — Mrs. E.

A: Admittedly some people who don’t even believe in God put those of us who claim to follow Christ to shame. We should be grateful for their good lives; our world would be worse without them. Even if they don’t realize it, the Bible says, “They show that the requirements of the law (of God) are written on their hearts” (Romans 2:15).

Whenever I’ve met someone like this — whether it was a compassionate unbeliever or a grumpy Christian — I’ve been challenged to look at my own life, and ask if I’m truly seeking to live in a way that honors God. After all, if a person without Christ lives a good life (and many do), shouldn’t those of us who believe in Him live even better lives? Of course. The Bible calls us “to be made new in the attitude of your minds … created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness” (Ephesians 4:23-24).

Don’t let the failures of a few keep you from Christ. Instead, face honestly your need for His forgiveness and new life, and open your heart and life to Him. Our world desperately needs those who will take Christ seriously and become His instruments of love and peace.

Pray too for your neighbors. God loves them, and their greatest need is to humble themselves before Him and discover the hope and joy He wants to give them. The Psalmist declared, “How priceless is your unfailing love, O God! … With you is the fountain of life” (Psalm 36:7, 9).