To help us reflect on this question, I have assembled a list of “10 Ways Our Lives Would Be Different if We Were Unbelievers.” The list is presented in the popular 10-through-1 format (although the relative importance of many of them is not that different, so the order could easily be different). Here’s the list:

10 Ways Our Lives Would Be Different If We Were Unbelievers

10. Nothing to say when someone sneezes

9. Stuck Defending Lame Theories
Without accounting for God as the creator of all things, we would be forced to try to explain how the universe created itself or how monkeys turned into people.

8. Loneliness
Having people in our lives can help with loneliness, but only the Lord can be our constant companion. Without Him, it would often be me and nobody.

7. No Need for Morality
Without the scriptures, it’s only about what’s legal. Drunkenness, adultery, sexual deviancy — any of these could be your way of life, and others would support you living that lifestyle.

6. Just Hope to Be Lucky
We wouldn’t have anyone to rely upon for protection throughout the day, or when we travel, so we would just have to hope that nothing bad happens. We wouldn’t be blessing our meals, so hopefully there’s nothing harmful in the food. Miracles? Hey, that was just good luck or a coincidence.

5. Better Have a Great Doctor
Imagine being sick and not having the option of prayer. Medical people are talented and can be used by God, but not being able to pray for a miracle? Unthinkable.

4. No Meaningful Plan/Purpose for Life
The only plans for our lives would be the ones we make ourselves — and how do those typically work out? A temporal purpose in life is, by definition, temporary. When God puts purpose in your life, it can have eternal effects.

3. No Forgiveness
Any guilt that we carry would always be there. Also, there would be no reason to forgive people who have wronged you — holding grudges and seeking vengeance would be OK. Of course, others would treat you the same way.

2. No Holy Ghost
Without the insight and discernment provided by the Holy Ghost, we would have to rely solely on our own intelligence and wisdom in making decisions. Sometimes, this may work out fine. Other times, not so much.

1. No Hope of Eternal Life
Imagine the despair and depression as the end of life draws closer if this is all there is. With our hope in this life only, we would be “most miserable” (1 Corinthians 15:19).

We should all be very grateful to God that we are not numbered among the unbelievers. Let’s do our best to help others to also shed that label — and the 10 things above that come with it.