A few days ago, we packed the whole family into our van and headed six hours south into the Crimean Mountains which rise majestically along the banks of the Black Sea.   We spent several days camping, hiking, fishing, exploring, and enjoying one another!  It was a fantastic time!

  One of the political parties here in Ukraine had posted billboards everywhere along the highways that read, "Let Crimea Overcome You!"  Oksana, the children, and I had to confess that, after spending a few days in the intoxicating beauty of those awesome mountains, and seeing the sun set over the crystal clear waters of the sea, we truly had been "overcome" by Crimea.  What a marvelous place!  

  And yet, as we traveled, we were constantly reminded of the spiritual needs of this region of Ukraine.  A large population of Sunni Muslim Tatars (about 250,000) dwell in Crimea, and nearly every village we passed through was centered around a mosque.  Each time we passed a mosque, we would pause and one of the children would pray that the Muslims who worshipped there would find the salvation and forgiveness of sins that can only be had through Jesus Christ.  

  As that phrase continues to run through my mind... "Let Crimea Overcome You," it has occurred to me that there are some things to which we gladly submit our will.  When we smelled the mountain forests and gazed upon glistening waterfalls, deep caves, and herds of horses grazing on grassy foothills, it was easy to just give into the beauty of it all and utter a sigh of pleasure  and a word of praise to the Creator!  

  The darkness of human sin and evil around us, however, remind us that there are some good things by which a person's will struggles to be overcome.  God's grace is a beautiful, awesome, and majestic power that calls each and every person to surrender and be overcome by the overtures and mercies of God in Christ.  But so many resist!  "Let Grace Overcome You!" is the call of the gospel; "Give up self-righteousness and human efforts and allow the sacrifice of Jesus to be your hope and confidence!"  And yet, the cheap, passing pleasures of sin keep many people anchored in the mire of death and emptiness.  

  And, unfortunately, the Islamic mosques were not the only reminder in Crimea of mankind refusing to be “overcome” by grace and, instead, being overcome by something dark and enslaving.  

  As we traveled through the breathtaking scenery of the Crimean Peninsula, we would occasionally break out of the mountains and be forced to pass through a small resort along the seaside.  The difference was stark!  In one moment, we had entered an artificial world of throbbing disco music, cheap plywood kiosks, sensual magazine stands, strewn litter, swaying miniskirts, honking horns, shouting voices, strong smells, and rude vendors peddling their wares at grossly inflated prices.  It is difficult indeed to describe the shock of that sudden contrast!  We always drove through those scenes as quickly as possible and made our way back up into the mountains, higher and higher, into an atmosphere that made all of the candy-coated fun of the valley seem like a sad caricature of reality.  

  Our prayer for the people around us is that they would be "overcome" by the grace of God and give in to the loving offer of God to become the Lord and Savior of their lives.  And may we, as Christians, also consciously allow God's grace to "overcome" and overwhelm us each new day, that we might remain on the mountaintop of His presence and fullness, and out of the valley of sin!