11Don’t forget that you Gentiles used to be outsiders. You were called “uncircumcised heathens” by the Jews, who were proud of their circumcision, even though it affected only their bodies and not their hearts. 12In those days you were living apart from Christ. You were excluded from citizenship among the people of Israel, and you did not know the covenant promises God had made to them. You lived in this world without God and without hope. 13But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ.
What do you think of the words “You lived in this world without God and without hope”?
To me, I first get struck by “lived in this world”. That alone is an awful thing. When I thought of my circumstance in this life on earth as being sooooo important I was miserable. Now I really don’t feel like I have any type of home here on Earth and my load is so much lighter. I have been on long vacations where I just wanted to get back to my “home” because I had traveled too long. Life here on earth is a lot like that. Part of me wants to go home to heaven so bad, but I know I am on a mission from God, so I must stay – like a soldier on active duty in a far off land. But my life is not here and I am so glad.
Being without God would most certainly would be hopeless. To imagine that this world is all there is and all you will ever know would be the deepest gloom. I have no remedy for that, only God does. Without God, there is no justice, no peace, no good, no love, no patience, no kindness, no goodness, no faith, and no discipline.