INTRODUCTION

1. Our nation faces a host of problems, and politicians are proposing a host of solutions.  Most of their solutions are just more of the same policies that led us into the problems in the first place.

2. Unfortunately, no national leaders are proposing the only solution that will work.  What is this solution?

    

THE SOLUTION IS RIGHTEOUSNESS

1. The only solution that can lift up our nation from its present downward trajectory is righteousness.

   1. This solution and its opposing problem are given in Proverbs 14:34:

      Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.

   2. It is just that simple.  When the people and the government of a nation do right, the nation is lifted up. When the people and the government of a nation practice, sanction, endorse, and celebrate sin, the nation is brought down in disgrace.

2. The solution of righteousness has been proved in many nations throughout centuries of history.

   1. The foremost biblical example is that of Israel, which prospered by God's hand but was destroyed when the people turned away from Him.

      1. The Law of Moses set a very simple standard for Israel to follow.  Notice Deuteronomy 10:12-13:

         ¹²"Now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require from you, but to fear the Lordyour God, to walk in all His ways and love Him, and to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, ¹³and to keep the Lord's commandments and His statutes which I am commanding you today for your good?"

      2. Indeed, life was very good for Israel while they kept this standard of righteousness.  However, the nation turned to idolatry and corruption and was divided into two parts, both of which were eventually taken into enemy captivity.  The southern kingdom of Judah returned from captivity only to be destroyed later by the Romans due to its continued rebellion against God.

   2. Another biblical example is that of Assyria.

      1. Assyria was an exceedingly wicked nation, so Jonah was sent by God to Nineveh (capital of Assyria) with a message of impending destruction (Jonah 3:1-4).

      2. However, both the people and the king of Nineveh repented, and the city was spared (Jonah 3:5-10).

      3. Later, when Nineveh resumed its wicked ways, God destroyed them (see Nahum).

   3. Our own nation is a present test of this solution.

      1. The United States was founded on the "Laws of Nature and of Nature's God" according to the Declaration of Independence and has been blessed over 239 years of existence.

      2. Lately, the nation has made a sharp turn against God and His laws.  The providential effects of this trend are evident in our modern problems, which are steadily getting worse.  The only solution to these problems is a nationwide turn to righteousness.

3. The problems of our time are reversible by a move to righteousness.

   1. All of our social, economic, and political problems (abortion, homosexuality, sexual immorality of all kinds, racism, violence, greed, corruption, theft, lawlessness, laziness, poverty, debt, immigration, education, parenting, etc.) are of our nation's own doing.  Consider Psalm 9:15-17:

      ¹⁵The nations have sunk down in the pit which they have made; in the net which they hid, their own foot has been caught.  ¹⁶The Lord has made Himself known; He has executed judgment.  In the work of his own hands the wicked is snared.  ¹⁷The wicked will return to Sheol, even all the nations who forget God.

   2. However, all of these problems can be corrected by the same simple solution: repentance and righteousness.  Regardless of the course our nation is on now (sinking down in the self-made pit), it can be changed.  Notice God's words in Jeremiah 18:7-10:

      ⁷"At one moment I might speak concerning a nation or concerning a kingdom to uproot, to pull down, or to destroy it; ⁸if that nation against which I have spoken turns from its evil, I will relent concerning the calamity I planned to bring on it.  ⁹Or at another moment I might speak concerning a nation or concerning a kingdom to build up or to plant it; ¹⁰if it does evil in My sight by not obeying My voice, then I will think better of the good with which I had promised to bless it."

WHAT CAN I DO?

1. Your primary responsibility is to be righteous yourself.

   1. Nations are made righteous by individuals who are righteous. Each person who determines to be righteous contributes to the overall righteousness of his nation, which is good for everyone (see again Deut. 10:12-13).

   2. The Lord gave the mandate for righteousness in Matthew 6:33, when He said, "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."  "These things" include food and clothing (necessities), but they can also include a peaceful, prosperous nation if the nation's people and leaders collectively seek after righteousness.

   3. To be righteous, simply follow the Scriptures' practical instructions.  Consider a few of them:

      1. Micah 6:8 -- He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

      2. Galatians 5:22-23 -- ²²But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

      3. 2Peter 1:5-7 -- ⁵Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, ⁶and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, ⁷and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love.

   4. As you see wickedness around you, do not be provoked to retaliate in kind.  Instead, fight back by doing good, just as Romans 12:21 says, "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."

2. As you practice righteousness, you set an example for others to follow.

   1. Consider the Lord's instructions in Matthew 5:13-16:

      ¹³"You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again?  It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men.  ¹⁴You are the light of the world.  A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; ¹⁵nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.  ¹⁶Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven."

   2. Be hopeful that your good example would cause others to imitate you, but even if you are maligned for doing good, continue to show a good example.  Consider 1Peter 2:12:

      Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation.

3. Pray for the righteousness of both the nation's leaders and its people.

   1. This avenue for pursuing the nation's righteousness is prescribed in 1Timothy 2:1-4:

      ¹First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, ²for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.  ³This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, ⁴who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

   2. Consider the two stated goals of these prayers for all men, including our leaders and authorities.

      1. We pray "so we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity."  Our prayers should be petitions for our leaders to govern in such a way to promote tranquility and quietness and for our nation's people (including ourselves) to behave in godliness and dignity, i.e., righteously.

      2. We pray for the salvation of all men and their knowledge of the truth by God's will.

   3. We can help fulfill our own prayers by being righteous ourselves, encouraging righteousness in others, and selecting leaders who comply with God's righteousness.  Consider Proverbs 29:2:

      When the righteous increase, the people rejoice, but when a wicked man rules, people groan.

       

CONCLUSION

1. Of course, true righteousness is available to us only through Christ, for it is His gospel that reveals the righteousness of God (Rom. 1:16-17).  Indeed, our own righteousness is like filthy rags (Isa. 64:6).

2. Therefore, the very best action we can take to help exalt our nation is to practice the gospel ourselves and preach the gospel of righteousness to everyone (Matt. 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16; 2Tim. 4:1-2).