Returning from Ukraine
- Dwight Smith
- Sep 29
- 2 min read
I am just retuning from Ukraine. In fact, I am sitting in Dusseldorf anticipating one more meeting with Ukrainian church leaders in Germany before I head home tomorrow.
Such trips, into nations suffering great trauma and injustice always test our understanding of world events. But, as I shared with the church leaders I met in Ukraine, God never makes a mistake. His sovereignty rules over both good and evil. His great design for His children is that they would faithfully represent Him, and claim the peace that only He can give.
Yet, for those of us who enter into these suffering places, there provokes a question for us as well. I have been encouraged and challenged by the words of an old hymn by Issac Watts. Read and then listen to the words of Watts from so many years ago, yet alive to us today.
VERSE 1
How sweet and aweful is the place
With Christ within the doors
While everlasting love displays
The choicest of her stores
VERSE 2
While all our hearts and all our songs
Join to admire the feast
Each of us cry with thankful tongues
“Lord, why was I a guest?”
VERSE 3
“Why was I made to hear Thy voice
And enter while there’s room
When thousands make a wretched choice
And rather starve than come?”
VERSE 4
’Twas the same love that spread the feast
That sweetly drew us in
Else we had still refused to taste
And perished in our sin
VERSE 5
Pity the nations, O our God
Constrain the earth to come
Send Thy victorious Word abroad
And bring the strangers home
VERSE 6
We long to see Thy churches full
That all the chosen race
May with one voice and heart and soul
Sing Thy redeeming grace
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