Psalm 53:1-3.
The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.”
They are corrupt, doing abominable iniquity;
there is none who does good.
2 God looks down from heaven
on the children of man
to see if there are any who understand,
who seek after God.
3 They have all fallen away;
together they have become corrupt;
there is none who does good,
not even one.
A life without God is no life at all. Anyone who continues to live without knowing God inevitably lives under the power of the devil, as Scripture says, “You belong to your father, the devil” (John 8:44). From the beginning, the devil has deceived humanity with false promises of happiness, hope, and a future.
People, caught in the devil’s traps and shaped by his patterns, end up living to fulfill his desires. Unknowingly, they become instruments of his will. They do not realize that the devil’s only intent is to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10). Nothing anyone possesses or does can change their spiritual identity or eternal destiny on their own.
As a result, they neither worship God nor give Him thanks. Their thinking becomes futile, and their hearts dark and confused. Claiming to be wise, they become fools (Psalm 53:1). Instead of worshiping the glorious, ever-living God, they turn to idols—images resembling people, birds, animals, and reptiles (Romans 1:21–23). Though God gave them authority to rule over creation, they have turned to worship what was meant to be ruled.
To fill their inner void—formlessness, emptiness, and darkness—they pursue idols of money, pleasure, and success, chasing after the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life (1 John 2:16). Even relationships are distorted: people begin to idolize others instead of truly loving them.
What they don’t realize is that these things are offered to demons, not to God. By engaging in idolatry, they become participants with demons (1 Corinthians 10:20), ultimately worshiping the devil himself (Matthew 4:8–9). Idolatry inevitably brings disaster, obsession, insecurity, and fear. That’s why God warns repeatedly against it (Exodus 20:3–5).
A life without God is weary, burdened, and restless. Nothing feels light or easy. People spend their entire lives trapped in the systems the devil has established (Acts 13, 16, 19). Along the way, they experience broken hearts and wounded minds, resulting in twisted personalities. Their lives become consumed by worldly obsessions and toxic thoughts—loneliness, sorrow, hatred, resentment, despair, and defeat.
These obsessions often lead to addiction, which ultimately controls the mind and results in various mental illnesses such as depression, suicidal thoughts, and panic disorders. Studies show that such mental afflictions are widespread, especially in developed nations like Japan, the United States, and throughout Europe. But modern science and medicine, while able to bring external changes, cannot address the spiritual root of these issues. Psychology and counseling fall short of providing a fundamental solution.
Spiritual, emotional, and mental problems often manifest as physical illness. Because of original sin, humanity is subject to all kinds of suffering and disease (Genesis 3:16–19). Living under Satan’s power leads to mysterious and unexplainable illnesses (Acts 8:4–8). Furthermore, the sins of parents can affect their children for generations (Exodus 20:4–5; 2 Samuel 12:15), and personal sins can bring serious illnesses as well (2 Kings 5:27; 2 Chronicles 21:12–19; 1 Corinthians 5:5).
These afflictions cannot be fully healed by conventional medicine. Though treatment may ease symptoms temporarily, the root cause remains. Some diseases are directly caused by Satan (Matthew 12:25–28; Mark 5:2–15; Mark 9:17; Luke 13:16; Ephesians 4:23–27). Thus, treatments—whether relying solely on medical procedures, religious rituals, or superstitions—can often worsen the condition (Matthew 12:43-45).
A life apart from God is to experience a foretaste of hell. Scripture makes it clear that hell is real. Jesus spoke of it often. Hell is a place prepared for the devil and his angels (Matthew 25:41), a lake of fire and burning sulfur (Revelation 21:8). Anyone whose name is not found in the Book of Life will be thrown into it (Revelation 20:15), where there is unending torment (Revelation 20:10).
Most terrifying of all, hell is a place where God’s grace and mercy no longer reach (Luke 16:24–26). Redemption is no longer possible, and no one can escape eternal judgment. From Adam’s time, all people have been born into this background of hell and are destined for it: “Just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment” (Hebrews 9:27).
Those who live without God spend their lives as children of the devil, trapped under the power of sin, death, and Satan. Spiritually, mentally, and physically, they suffer endlessly and are on a path toward eternal fire.
But the problem doesn’t end there. Scripture affirms that disasters and curses are passed down to future generations (Exodus 20:3–6). Spiritual inheritance is real. Parents who live under the devil’s power inevitably pass down the same struggles—if not worse—to their children. Their spiritual DNA, as well as their physical DNA, is inherited. Despite their best efforts to provide for their children, every spiritual, mental, and physical problem they carried will eventually surface in the next generation. This is a sobering spiritual reality.
Jesus Himself spoke of this: “You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires…” (John 8:44). Every generation ends up deceived, trapped in Satan’s systems, and compelled to fulfill his will.
But thanks be to God, who sent His Son, Jesus, as the Christ! Jesus completed the work of the True King, setting us free from the power of Satan. He finished the work of the True Priest, removing all curses and disasters through His blood. He fulfilled the mission of the True Prophet, delivering us from the background of hell and opening a new and living way to God.
So hold fast to God’s covenant of the “offspring of the woman” (Genesis 3:15). Build the ark for yourself and others (Genesis 6:18). Sprinkle the blood of the Lamb over your life and those entrusted to your care (Exodus 3:18).
Live in the joy of Immanuel (Isaiah 7:14) and the full truth that Jesus is the Christ (Matthew 16:16). Let God’s Word dwell deeply in your spirit, soul, mind, and body (Deuteronomy 6:4–9), and let it bring true healing. You will rise as a thousand and a mighty nation to shine the light of the gospel to all nations (Isaiah 60:22).
Prayer. Father, I thank You for saving me from a life without knowing You. Because of Christ Jesus who lives in me, I now have a new life in You. Fill me with Your Spirit, that I may bring the power of the gospel to those still living without You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.