Introduction
Greetings to my readers – especially to my readers in Slavic countries. I have called the Russian invasion of the Ukraine the “2022 Slavic War.” A war starts when a nation invades another nation. The nation that is invaded did not start the war. The invading nation did. The invaded nation has to defend itself.
With this article, I have created “2022 Slavic War,” as a separate Topic Section. This is my fifth article. My other four articles were on 3/8/2022, 3/20/2022, 5/12/2022, and 5/30/2022. Five articles are now in this new section.
The Russian invasion of Ukraine becomes, too often, a side note. To both my Ukrainian and Russian brothers and sisters in Christ, you are not forgotten! The daily prayers of many, including me, are for peace. May it be so, Lord.
8-24-1991 Ukraine Independence Day
Thirty-one years ago, Ukraine declared independence from the USSR, on 8/24/1991. The official website of Ukraine includes a section on “Origins & History of Ukraine.” To my non-Slavic readers, you may wish to read the entire section.
The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) ended, on 12/31/1991. (See “Collapse of the Soviet Union,” by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica; Last Updated 8/11/2022.)
On 10/1/1994, Mrs. Appalachian Irishman and I joined two other families, to serve as missionaries, to Moscow and Klin, Russia. My “Topic Sections” includes twelve articles on or that reference “Mission Work.” I may write a book, about our mission experiences.
Ukrainian Independence marked freedom from Soviet oppression, dictatorship, and tyranny. Today, 8/24/2022, Ukrainians will find no joy – if there is any celebration of their independence from the USSR, which included, of course, Russia.
2-24-2022 Russian Invasion of Ukraine
On 2/24/2022, Russia invaded Ukraine. Today, on Ukraine Independence Day, marks day 182 of the Russian invasion of their Slavic brothers in Ukraine. Vladimir Putin and his minions started the war. Both sides argue the reasons. Propaganda abounds.
The Moscow Times section on Ukraine War is a good source of information. I receive their weekly emails, on Fridays.
Russia is not without its faults. Ukraine is not without its faults. No nation is. A peaceful nation should not be invaded by an aggressive nation. Yes, history abounds with too many examples.
Conclusion
The inspired Luke recorded the apostle Paul's meeting of the Areopagus, in Acts 17:22-34. (The quotation, below, includes my bold highlight, for emphasis on this topic.)
Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said:
“People of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious.
For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of
worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN
GOD. So you are ignorant of the very thing you worship —and this is
what I am going to proclaim to you.
“The God who made the
world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does
not live in temples built by human hands. And he is not served by
human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives
everyone life and breath and everything else. From one man he made
all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and
he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries
of their lands. God did this so that they would seek him and
perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any
one of us. ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As
some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’
“Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that
the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by
human design and skill. In the past God overlooked such ignorance,
but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. For he has
set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has
appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from
the dead.”
When they heard about the resurrection of
the dead, some of them sneered, but others said, “We want to hear
you again on this subject.” At that, Paul left the Council. Some of
the people became followers of Paul and believed. Among them was
Dionysius, a member of the Areopagus, also a woman named Damaris, and
a number of others. (Acts 17:22-34 NIV)
God has marked the appointed times of nations and set their boundaries. God does not, however, cause nations to commit evil. His grace allows free will – for people and nations to commit evil – for a while. The inspired Old Testament records God's hand in the rise and fall of nations. Deeper thought on the subject of God's providence and why God allows evil nations to prosper – for a time – is beyond the scope of this brief article. I may unpack my thoughts, in a longer article, later.
God requires all people, as individuals and nations, to repent of their evil and to turn to His Son, Jesus, the Christ. Universal Judgment Day is coming. The evils caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine will be judged. I will be judged. You will be judged. Our judgment will be just. If we have repented and turned to the Lord, our Savior, we will have everlasting life, in heaven. If we have not, everlasting torment awaits.
Paul's sermon on the Areopagus, in the first century, led to the conversion of Dionysius, Damaris, and several others. Some, however, in free will, rejected Paul's words of salvation.
The word of salvation is offered. Many of my readers have chosen as Dionysius and Damaris did. Other readers have not – yet. Please choose wisely. My “Contact Form” is available, if you need my assistance. God's blessings to my readers – especially for peace in Ukraine.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment