The harrowing reports emerging of the conflict in Ukraine prompted this article. I believe it contains a truth that ever so many need to consider and that urgently.
Sincerely in Christ’s name,
Ivan Foster.
Lessons in TRUTH from the mire of LIES that is the Russian/Ukrainian conflict!
“ . . . no lie is of the truth,” 1 John 2:21.
Daily our newspapers and television news broadcasts set before us abundant and graphic evidence of man’s unchanging depravity. Men have piously and pompously proclaimed the ‘death’ of war and despotism. Invariably, it has followed the end of great conflicts. It happened after WWI and also WWII.
However, evidence of the foolishness of such notions was soon forthcoming with the advent of the Korean and the Vietnam wars, not to mention the many forgotten conflicts that have plagued nations in subsequent years.
The religions of mankind have this one common theme, whatever other superficial differences may be evident. It is this: man is an evolving creature, ever improving and growing better!
The lie to which such a notion is largely due, is found in the writings and theories of Charles Darwin, though many, many others share in the ignominy that one day will be seen as being attached to this rejection of God’s truth.
In the towns and cities of Ukraine this lie is held up before our eyes with the ongoing slaughter of children and mothers and the elderly.
Today’s news is carried in headlines such as: “Scores feared dead as Putin bombs ‘hundreds’ of sheltering families: Biden brands Russian leader a ‘war criminal’ after theatre packed with ‘up to 1,200’ terrified civilians is destroyed — despite having CHILDREN written outside”
The spirit of ‘Hitler’ and ‘Stalin’ lives on today, even as those men were but the manifestation of the depravity of wicked men too innumerable to mention in whose footsteps they followed.
Vladimir Putin is, as every son born of Adam’s line, a depraved sinner. The evidence of man’s universal depravity is seen in our own land. Here we have the daily reports of somewhat lesser sins reported in our news outlets. We have in our United Kingdom murderers of children, mothers and fathers, the weak and the helpless.
The perpetrators of such crimes are as evil as is Putin, though the list of their victims is not as long. Doubtless, they acted in this devilish manner to the extent of their ability. Were they left to continue in their wicked trade, the list of their victims would be greatly increased. This truth is written in the records of those ‘serial’ killers who eluded the police hunting them. As long as they were not apprehended, they continued in their blood-lust!
The ‘killing fields’ of Ukraine present to us a clear though most unwelcome picture of the true character of men. Were it not for the restraining mercy of God, all would enter into such extremes of behaviour. The promoter of such iniquity amongst men, the devil, would, were he able, incite all under his control to such abominations. The only exceptions to that are those who “escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust,” (2 Peter 1:4) and that through the saving grace of the Lord Jesus Christ.
We are told in God’s Word that the last days would see an increase in the activities of those who were “fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God,” 2 Timothy 3:3-4. Another such warning is given by Jude. “But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; how that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts,” Jude 1:17-18. These warnings are being played out before our eyes in Ukraine, not to mention many other places in the earth, attended by much less media coverage.
In the news coverage of the Ukrainian conflict there has been a great deal of reporting of the spoutings of Putin and the plans and purpose he hopes to accomplish by his war against Ukraine. We must be careful of the use of propaganda by all sides in this conflict, a practice in which all warring nations have engaged throughout time. However, allowing for such, it is very evident that Vladimir Putin is a victim of his own propaganda! If only half of the reports of the victorious accomplishments of the Ukrainian army is true, it is nevertheless obvious that things are not going well for the Russian dictator. Here is how one newspaper reported the situation this morning.
“Russia has seen up to 28, 000 troops killed, wounded or captured in Ukraine – around a fifth of its force – US says, as invasion ‘stalls on all fronts’ but shelling of cities continues”.
If this is only remotely true, then it is clear that Putin is blind to the failure that his venture is meeting with! Furthermore, those of his citizens who swallow his version of events are likewise blind.
This blindness within the Kremlin and elsewhere in Russia is seen by the world and many marvel at the folly of it all. But yet, an equal blindness and delusion, no, a blindness and delusion to a far, far great extent is evident amongst those who marvel at Russian delusion!
Those ‘head-shaking’ millions of astonished and amazed onlookers throughout the world who daily follow the reports of the tragic events in Ukraine, are themselves victims of a much greater delusion, a delusion with much more horrific consequences.
I refer of course to the blindness of mankind generally to its spiritual state and the repercussions of the rejection of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ which is everywhere evident!
Please listen to what the Word of God says on this most vital subject.
Man is a sinner, a rebel in defiance of God and His Word.
“For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not, ” Ecclesiastes 7:20. “But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe,” Galatians 3:22. “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God,” Romans 3:23.
The penalty of sin is most dreadful.
“For the wages of sin is death,” Romans 6:23. This does not mean annihilation, as many would like to believe. No, the soul lives on after the death of the body. “The rich man also died, and was buried; and in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments,” Luke 16:22-23. The souls of unconverted mankind, which went to hell upon the death of the body, are reunited with their bodies at the resurrection of the unjust and then their body and soul will be cast into the lake of fire for ever. “And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire,” Revelation 20:12-15.
The exception to this most horrific fate is referred to here as those whose names were ‘written in the book of life’.
Just who are they? The Saviour said to the disciples, even those who believed His Word that He was the Saviour of the world, on one occasion. “Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven,” Luke 10:20. The names of believers are written in heaven, in the book of life.
Those who have received Christ, that is, believed upon Him in response to the gospel, are saved. “And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life,” 1 John 5:11-12. “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name,” John 1:12. “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him,” John 3:36.
There is enough in these few words I set before you to show that whoever has not received Christ is, according to the Word of God, never going to enter heaven but will be lost forever under God’s eternal judgment.
Is this not the very opposite to what is commonly believed?
Does not the general public repeatedly declare in one form or other that they expect to enter heaven, irrespective of how they have lived or what they have believed?
Do we not hear the expectation voiced after a tragedy, that there will be a reunion in heaven with those who have just died and that is said of those whose whole lifestyle was one built upon an utter defiance of God and His Word?
Men and women, there is a self-delusion much worse than that which afflicts Putin regarding the war he is waging. There is a self-delusion that pervades every corner of the world amongst those who live and die without Christ!
Are you one of them? Does your self-delusion make Vladimir Putin’s pale into insignificance?
O heed God’s Word today and be saved from wrath to come.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life,” John 3:16.
“Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures,” 1 Corinthians 15:3.
Rev Ivan Foster (Rtd)
17th March 2022