Our World Belongs to God: A Contemporary Testimony

 As followers of Jesus Christ, 

living in this world— 
which some seek to control, 
and others view with despair— 
we declare with joy and trust: 
Our world belongs to God! 
From the beginning, 
through all the crises of our times, 
until the kingdom fully comes, 
God keeps covenant forever: 
Our world belongs to God! 
God is King: 
Let the earth be glad! 
Christ is victor: 
his rule has begun! 
The Spirit is at work: 
creation is renewed! 
Hallelujah! Praise the Lord! 
Still, despair and rebellious pride fill the earth: 
some, crushed by failure 
or broken by pain, 
give up on life and hope and God; 
others, shaken, 
but still hoping for human triumph, 
work feverishly to realize their dreams. 
As believers in God, 
we also struggle with the spirits of this age, 
resisting them in the power of the Spirit, 
testing them by God’s sure Word. 
Our world, fallen into sin, 
has lost its first goodness, 
but God has not abandoned the work of his hands: 
our Maker preserves this world, 
sending seasons, sun, and rain, 
upholding all creatures, 
renewing the earth, 
promising a Savior, 
guiding all things to their purpose. 
God holds this world 
with fierce love. 
Keeping his promise, 
he sends Jesus into the world, 
pours out the Holy Spirit, 
and announces the good news: 
sinners who repent and believe in Jesus 
live anew as members of the family of God— 
the first-fruits of a new creation. 
We rejoice in the goodness of God, 
renounce the works of darkness, 
and dedicate ourselves to holy living. 
As covenant partners, 
set free for joyful obedience, 
we offer our hearts and lives 
to do God’s work in the world. 
With tempered impatience, 
eager to see injustice ended, 
we expect the Day of the Lord. 
We are confident 
that the light 
which shines in the present darkness 
will fill the earth 
when Christ appears. 
Come, Lord Jesus. 
Our world belongs to you. 
From Our World Belongs to God: A Contemporary Testimony, © 2008, Christian Reformed Church in North America, Grand Rapids MI. www.crcna.org.

The above comes from the official website of Charlottetown CRC.