Is happiness found in social and economic policies? Or in educational and cultural programs? These things can be good and helpful, but a nation can only find true happiness when its people recognize the Lord. This occurs when hearts transformed by the grace of God seek to do his will.

In our pluralistic world today many people claim that all religions are equal and that all paths lead to God. Many national leaders today don't even recognize the Lord.

Is there any nation that serves the Lord today? Not truly. While some nations may claim to trust in God, their actions show that they follow the ways of the world. Even if they do some things right, their leaders seldom give credit to God. We should not be surprised, then, to see a moral and spiritual vacuum in so many places. Wickedness leads to perversion, and ungodliness leads to immorality.

Within every nation, though, there are people who say, like the psalmist, "We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name." These are the people of God's kingdom, and they know true happiness is found in Christ. They share his love with others, and he says to them, "Well done, good and faithful servant[s]! . . . Come and share your master's happiness!" (Matthew 25:21).