Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, OR WHO BECAME HIS COUNSELOR? Or WHO HAS FIRST GIVEN TO HIM THAT IT MIGHT BE REPAID TO HIM? For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.

Romans 11:33-36

These words proclaim the grandeur of our sovereign God. Through temporal eyes we see a nation out of control. Then looking to the living Word, it is the Lord of heaven and earth, the King of kings who is steering world history. When we cling to His Word, only one conclusion is evident. Yahweh God is working out His plan and purpose exactly as He has determined. This is the point of verse 36, "For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things."

From the first day of creation, spanning all of history and projecting thrusting forward to the end of time, God is working out every detail of His decree, covenant and promises. Not a detail is missed. Even, "the very hairs of your head are all numbered (Matthew 10:30). This we Christians must keep in the forefront of our minds and expressed in our prayers -- God indeed is sovereign. "The nations roar, the kingdoms shake; He gives His voice, the earth melts" (Psalms 46:6).

America indeed is in trouble. Should Christians be distressed by such evil? Deeply so. However, not to the point of despair. That would be unbelief. As wickedness swirls around us, time spent in the Word is not optional. For "evil men do not understand justice, But those who seek Yahweh understand all things" (Proverbs 28:5). The need to see and understand the world we live in, must come by way of His Word. Apart from it, we cannot make sense of anything we see.

Great Sin - Greater Grace

Romans 5:20 reminds us why God gave the Law. "Now the Law came in so that the transgression would increase, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more." There is no denying, sin in our nation has taken a dramatic uptick. The grosses of these sins is openly proclaimed with pride. This aligns with Proverbs 28:4 , "those who forsake the law praise the wicked." Such praise has reached a deafening volume.

"Even so grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 5:21). It is at this moment in American history, the grace of our God abounds. God's intent has not changed. His bountiful grace will be seen when sin increases: "the gracious gift arose from many transgressions" (Romans 5:16b). It is here we must see, read and remember verse 21, Jesus is the answer to our nation's ills.

Our Part - Begins Here

In light of the above, we are given a role to play in our nation. The Christians, the church, the body of Christ is the channel God chose to proclaim His abounding grace. The church is not the cause of our nations sin, as some have charged, rather Christ's church is the voice in the wilderness, the voice of hope (cf. Mark 1:3).

Perhaps better stated, as Christians living in America we have a duty. Looking again to Romans: "Therefore I exhort you, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a sacrifice—living, holy, and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service of worship" (Romans 12:1).

How many times have we read those words? Read them in the absences of deep thought? Duty is to sacrifice the whole of our bodies/lives. If we understand anything, we understand that it was by the "mercies of God" that we may be called "brothers." What we have, we were given. Once we were enemies, yet, adopted into the heavenly family purely by mercy and given unmerited grace. Should this not drive us to want to sacrifice?

The motive then, is to live "holy, and pleasing to God." Such a life defines "worship," our "spiritual service." When you read the eleven preceding chapters in the book of Romans, it is easy to understand why Paul ends with this doxological statement: "Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God!" This uncontained praise!

Paul is gripped by this Truth. In turn he exhorts us Christians, as God's servant slaves to be obedient to our master in every way. This we must do consistently and openly for the nation to see. It must be obvious to whom we serve.

Such spiritual service does not fear man. Herein is the very point of failure that so often occurs. We claim boldness, we talk a good talk, yet when given the opportunity to actually be bold, we shrink. Why? Because we fear men. These two cannot coexist. We are serving our Lord or we are fearing men. This is the challenge every Christian must face; forgetting what man thinks and give the whole of our lives as a sacrifice that pleases our God. That is how to worship.

Our Part - The Action

 "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may approve what the will of God is, that which is good and pleasing and perfect" (Romans 12:2). This command is directed to us individually. Given here is the safeguard from becoming like sinful unbelievers.

The Word displaces the world. The Word transforms. The Word reconditions the mind. And, the Word provides necessary knowledge and understanding, "So that you may approve what the will of God is" (cf. Colossians 1:9).

Our call is to be strikingly different within the midst of our nation. Understanding the Word then, is the driver to action. Life as lived now. These words are a call to action in our person, in our marriages, our families, and our workplace. Lives that testify to Christ living in us. We must then, speak.

All Christians know this. Most of us came to repentance when another Christian spoke. Through their words, the Holy Spirit revealed sin and our need for the Savior. Our silence will not help our nation.

All of us struggle with this, fighting the fear of men. Speaking with eloquence or having the right words to say often is not the issue. It comes down to willingness. I pray, starting with myself, to have that willingness. Likewise, ask how your Lord would have you speak. Ask in what way He may use you to convey His saving grace to others.

The Wonder

"Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God!" In all the current evils, we must not loose the wonder. The wonder of God through Christ, when He made you and me, His enemies, now His friends.

The hope for America rests in the Church. A body of people ready to stand, to call evil for what it is. And, proclaim Jesus Christ who promises to save. We are present here and now. We are the living body of Christ and we are given the authority to speak.

For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.

Romans 11:36