Of Treasures in Heaven and Earth
O F T R E A S U R E S I N H E A V E N A N D E A R T H
Recently we had the opportunity to visit the “ Mezhyhirya Mansion” which is called by the people of Ukraine- “ The Palace of Corruption.” or “Monument to corruption.” Why would such a beautiful place as this be called such a name? Let us tell you the story!
Clear back in 2010 a man by the name of Victor Yanukovych was elected as the 4th President of Ukraine on February 7, 2010. ( 4th since the collapse of the Soviet Union on Dec. 26,1991-) He began almost immediately spending and expanding his complex in Mezhyhirya. The winter of 2014 is called “Winter on Fire” as the people revolted against the political corruption. The people gathered at Kyiv’s Maidan Square and eventually, more than 100 people were killed, many by sniper fire, in clashes between protesters and police. Yanukovych could read the writing on the wall and over a 3 day period in February loaded truck loads of treasures and fled the country. On February 22, 2014 word spread that Yanukovych had fled the country and journalists and the public rushed to the palace to find that most of the treasure had vanished with him. They realized that in his hurry to leave, documents had been thrown into the Dnieper River . Eventually, over 25,000 documents were retrieved showing the extent of bribes and corruption which had taken place. Millions of dollars had been spent to support his life style at the expense of the Ukrainian people!
On January 25,2019 a Ukrainian court found Viktor Yanukovych guilty of treason for his efforts to crush the revolution. He was also charged with asking Vladimir Putin to send Russian troops to invade Ukraine after he had fled the country. He now lives in Russia under armed guard. Russia annexed Crimea months after Yanukovych fled. Fighting continues in eastern Ukraine to this day.
This modern history lesson has a significant spiritual lesson that Jesus Christ taught the people some 2,000 years ago . (Matthew 6:19-21) “Lay not up for yourselves treasures on earth where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven...for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” In Luke 12:16-21 Jesus shares a parable-“ ...The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: And he thought within himself saying, what shall I do? Because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, this will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will i bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich unto God.”
At the funeral of a very wealthy man, a conversation was over heard. “ I wonder how much he left? To which the other responded, “all of it!”
In Matthew16:26 the Savior asked a question we all should ponder. “ For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?”
We may not be building a “ Mezhyhirya Mansion” but if we are not seeking treasures in heaven above all else- it might be wise to ponder the lessons to be learned , as we did recently in Ukraine as we experienced the “ Monument to Corruption.” and contemplated a modern parable of priorities!
Much love- The Grandparent Chronicles
Oct 27, 2019
Clear back in 2010 a man by the name of Victor Yanukovych was elected as the 4th President of Ukraine on February 7, 2010. ( 4th since the collapse of the Soviet Union on Dec. 26,1991-) He began almost immediately spending and expanding his complex in Mezhyhirya. The winter of 2014 is called “Winter on Fire” as the people revolted against the political corruption. The people gathered at Kyiv’s Maidan Square and eventually, more than 100 people were killed, many by sniper fire, in clashes between protesters and police. Yanukovych could read the writing on the wall and over a 3 day period in February loaded truck loads of treasures and fled the country. On February 22, 2014 word spread that Yanukovych had fled the country and journalists and the public rushed to the palace to find that most of the treasure had vanished with him. They realized that in his hurry to leave, documents had been thrown into the Dnieper River . Eventually, over 25,000 documents were retrieved showing the extent of bribes and corruption which had taken place. Millions of dollars had been spent to support his life style at the expense of the Ukrainian people!
On January 25,2019 a Ukrainian court found Viktor Yanukovych guilty of treason for his efforts to crush the revolution. He was also charged with asking Vladimir Putin to send Russian troops to invade Ukraine after he had fled the country. He now lives in Russia under armed guard. Russia annexed Crimea months after Yanukovych fled. Fighting continues in eastern Ukraine to this day.
This modern history lesson has a significant spiritual lesson that Jesus Christ taught the people some 2,000 years ago . (Matthew 6:19-21) “Lay not up for yourselves treasures on earth where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven...for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” In Luke 12:16-21 Jesus shares a parable-“ ...The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: And he thought within himself saying, what shall I do? Because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, this will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will i bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich unto God.”
At the funeral of a very wealthy man, a conversation was over heard. “ I wonder how much he left? To which the other responded, “all of it!”
In Matthew16:26 the Savior asked a question we all should ponder. “ For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?”
We may not be building a “ Mezhyhirya Mansion” but if we are not seeking treasures in heaven above all else- it might be wise to ponder the lessons to be learned , as we did recently in Ukraine as we experienced the “ Monument to Corruption.” and contemplated a modern parable of priorities!
Much love- The Grandparent Chronicles
Oct 27, 2019
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