In the prayer Jesus taught his disciples known as "The Lord's Prayer," we find one of the most profound and hopeful petitions ever offered: “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:10)

At the heart of this prayer is a longing not merely for personal salvation, but for the renewal of all things – for a world shaped not by pride, greed, or fear, but by the will of God. It is a plea for a world that is not yet, but ought to be.

That phrase – a world that is not yet, but ought to be – comes from a sermon by the late Southern Baptist minister, Dr. Theodore F. Adams. In it, he recounts a deeply personal prayer composed by his brother, Dr. Earl Adams, shortly before his death. This prayer, offered for the nation and the church, bears repeating at length:

“Bless, O Lord, our great nation, and grant that we may ever share in the fulfillment of the prayer of the ancient prophet that ‘justice may roll down as waters and righteousness as a mighty stream.’

“Correct us, O Lord, where we are wrong. Confirm us wherever we may be right. Grant us wisdom to distinguish Thy will and courage to do it.

“Give to each of us a steadfast heart which no unworthy affection may drag down, a clear vision which cannot be warped away from truth, a firm loyalty which cannot be tempted aside.

“As we have mastered nature, so that we might gain wealth, help us now to master the social relations of mankind that we may gain justice, peace, and a spirit of brotherhood.

“Remind us that only the humble may live in thine House, only the pure in heart can see Thee, only the merciful may know Thee, only the brave can experience Thee, and only the patient may serve Thee truly.

“Grant us a vision of the world that is not yet but ought to be, and in loyal devotion to its appearing, grant us the peace of those who strive for it in spirit and in truth.”

This is no ordinary prayer. It is thoroughly Christian, soaked in biblical truth, and courageous moral clarity. It envisions a world submitted to God’s will, where justice and righteousness are not merely abstract ideals but social realities.

But that world will require more than hope to take shape in any fashion here and now. It will require Christians to live as citizens of that coming Kingdom, starting now, and not just waiting for it later.

This means more than personal piety. It means public engagement. Sadly, many churches hesitate to enter the public arena, believing such involvement to be too divisive or “political.” But as Tom Minnery wrote in his book Why You Can’t Stay Silent, when moral sparks fly in government councils, it is “honoring to Christ” for skilled Christian people to be present, armed not with anger but grace and truth.

Still, some believers are uneasy. They worry that political involvement might offend or turn people away from the Gospel. I understand this concern, but I respectfully disagree. What better context to preach Christ than in the face of the world’s brokenness and sin? Public affairs, with its many problems – problems for which the Scriptures have answers – is a powerful platform for the Gospel, not a distraction from it.

Jesus said in Mark 8:35, “For whoever would save his life shall lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it.” That verse teaches us three timeless principles for Christian living and cultural impact:

First, anything you save for yourself will ultimately be lost.

We live in an age of self-preservation, where success is measured in accumulation. However, Christ calls us to a different path. Like a runner in a race who fails to give his everything and finishes with unused energy, many of us reach the end of our lives having held back and, therefore, finish in mediocrity. We were too careful, too cautious, too reserved. Yet Jesus reminds us: What you hold back for yourself, you ultimately lose; what you give away, you keep – you even get it back with dividends.

Second, anything you share will ultimately be regained.

This point is very close to the one previously made, but it emphasizes that we were made for sharing, not just possessions, but time, truth, and love. The psychiatrist Karl Menninger was once asked what to do if you felt a nervous breakdown coming on. He didn’t say, “See a psychiatrist.” He said, “Lock your house, go across the railroad tracks (where people are often rejected and marginalized), find someone in need, and help them.” Sharing is not loss! Sharing is healing! Sharing is life-transforming!

Third, anything you surrender to God will be glorified.

Think of the boy with five loaves and two fish – his offering seemed profoundly insignificant. Yet when placed in the hands of Christ, it fed thousands. That’s what God does with what we yield to Him: He takes even the smallest gift and multiplies its impact beyond imagination.

It’s the same reason a humble woman like Mother Teresa, with no wealth, title, or worldly power, became one of the most revered figures of the 20th century. She held nothing back. She gave her all – and because she lived that way, the world could not help but take notice. Though many of us may not align with Catholic doctrine, her life became a megaphone through which God spoke to a weary, war-torn, and wandering world.

Of course, the most important thing anyone can ever offer to God is not their time, their talent, or their treasure – it is their very heart. The most essential surrender is giving one’s life to Jesus Christ. Until that offering is made, all other sacrifices fall short. When the heart is surrendered to Christ in repentance of sin and faith, everything else we offer becomes holy and increased in His hands.

We may not have all the answers or detailed blueprints for rebuilding a fractured world. As Dr. Adams wisely added, “No man can…give you a little blueprint, and all you have to do is follow that to build a new world… But though we do not have the blueprints, we do have the basic principles [from God’s Word].”

Indeed, we do! When we live out God’s eternal principles, surrendering, sharing, and serving, we help move the world closer to what it was always meant to be.

Let us then pray as Jesus taught us: “Thy Kingdom come.” Let us work with hands and hearts yielded to God for a world that is not yet, but by His grace ought to be.

From a sermon by Rev. Mark Creech titled “Toward a World That is not Yet But Ought to Be.”