Faith and patriotism
The Mystery of the Holy One is great. It is beyond the power of human mind. Inscrutable. Incomprehensible. "Who has understood the mind of the LORD, or instructed him as his counselor? Whom did the LORD consult to enlighten him, and who taught him the right way?" (Isa 40:13-14).
However, it is for our sake that certain things were made known. We can speak with sureness about what was made known to us by God as a result of His benevolence and love.
The ministry of Jesus Christ revealed the Truth that had remained hidden for long. In him the Lord became the Teacher of all.
It was predetermined long ago: "Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who depends on flesh for his strength and whose heart turns away from the LORD" (Jer 17:5). What is the real strength then? Faith in God with obedience, with spiritual purity, with all truthfulness – that is the real strength.
But why do sinners show no respect for the Mighty One? They build plans and cherish great hopes, but it is all in vain because the Maker destroys their plans. In their sinful stubbornness the ungodly are not aware that they are worthless. "Before him all the nations are as nothing; they are regarded by him as worthless and less than nothing" (Isa 40:17).
When fools challenge the power of the Mighty One, you do not have to wait long in order for the Judge to punish them, to destroy what their hands have made. They appear to be the authors of their own ruin."The nations have fallen into the pit they have dug; their feet are caught in the net they have hidden" (Psa 9:15).
The current problems of our country may appear as nothing if compared with what will happen on the day of God's wrath. How terrible will be that day! "The LORD is angry with all nations; his wrath is upon all their armies. He will totally destroy them, he will give them over to slaughter" (Isa 34:2).
Perhaps there need to be a lesson for those who yet have a chance to repent and to give up their sinful ways.
The Maker punishes His enemies and rewards His servants – according to everybody's deeds. The faithful who are true followers of Christ will not remain without the reward they deserve. That is why "he gave them the lands of the nations, and they fell heir to what others had toiled for-- that they might keep his precepts and observe his laws" (Psa 105:44-45).
Then God's chosen people, the true believers, will be masters over the country, as it was many centuries ago when the Jews obtained the promised land, and the barbarians were driven out of it. "You brought a vine out of Egypt; you drove out the nations and planted it" (Psa 80:8).
We all ought to live in conformity with Biblical faith and to propagate the teaching of Christ. There will be peace and prosperity when God is worshiped widely – this is the goal which Ukrainian patriots should strive for.
The triumph of the true faith all over the world is what king David prayed for: "May his name endure forever; may it continue as long as the sun. All nations will be blessed through him, and they will call him blessed" (Psa 72:17). "Therefore I will praise you among the nations, O LORD; I will sing praises to your name" (Psa 18:49).
*The Scriptural citations are from The New International Version (NIV)
