About a year ago, a book came out detailing how a man decided to spend an entire year attempting to follow every single rule in the Bible – as literally as possible. The results were both entertaining and illuminating. However, I wonder what would happen if a Christian were to turn the premise upside down and try to live for a year (or any period of time) as an atheist? [This is just a “thought experiment” – please do not actually attempt it!!].
It would be interesting to see how our actions & lifestyle would change (or whether the difference would even be noticeable to the people around us). I like to think that living without Jesus for a year would be as inconceivable as going without breathing for an entire year, but my frequent self-centeredness and chronic failure to fully follow Christ in day-to-day life indicates that I would probably slip into a “pretend atheism” much more easily than I care to admit. However, Jesus is faithful to us even when our faith is feeble or fluctuating. Therefore, thankfully, we never have to seriously consider – even for a second – what life would be like without him.
“Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” (Heb. 13:5)
Eron Elswick
Worship – Grow – Serve
