By Benescke Janse van Rensburg

In his castle on a hill in Burgundy, France, Dmytro Malinovskiy maintained a luxurious lifestyle. Although he had Salvador Dali artworks against his wall and an antique Rolls Royce Phantom in his garage, he still tried his best to avoid too much attention being drawn to him or his castle. For a time, it seemed to work.

After Dmytro bought the castle in 2016, he decided to continue to allow tourists to visit one part of the property. I am sure none of the estimated 25,000 annual tourists ever suspected that they were visiting a castle belonging to a Ukrainian fugitive. In 2015 the police were hunting Dmytro for his involvement in international fraud and money laundering. He managed to fake his own death, thinking that he successfully put that part of his life behind him.

Can you imagine Dmytro’s shock when, despite his strong team of security guards, Europol entered the castle last month and arrested him? Apart from the castle, the police seized €4.6 million worth of (more than R72 million) jewels and other assets.

At times, we are like Dmytro. We get involved with wrong situations. We manage to conceal it and think that we can put it behind us. The truth, however, is that nothing is hidden from God. In Proverbs 5:21 we read: “For the Lord sees clearly what a man does, examining every path he takes.” In Psalm 139: 1-3,7 it is written," Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I’m far away. You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do. . . I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence!” And in Luke 8:17 we read: “For all that is secret will eventually be brought into the open, and everything that is concealed will be brought to light and made known to all.”

God sees when we bend the rules at work. He sees every situation during which we sacrifice our integrity in order to succeed. He also sees every message secretly sent to someone outside our marriage with wrong motives. And He sees us trying to conceal it. 

Is there mercy and forgiveness when we repent and turn away from our wrongdoing? Definitely. But, we will still have to take responsibility for painful consequences that may follow our actions. David experienced it. He had an extra-marital relationship with Bathsheba. God was not happy. David repented and God forgave him. Yet, the baby still died. It was extremely painful. My prayer for each of us is that we will be obedient to the warning from the Holy Spirit in our lives. May we ask God to strengthen us to stay on the right path. God bless.

Father God, thank you for the knowledge that there is mercy and second chances with true repentance. Please make me aware of things in my life that do not carry your approval. Also strengthen me through Your Holy Spirit to walk away from it. I ask this in the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

  • See photo of Dmytro Malinovskiy’s castle at www.benescke.co.za or on the Stories van Hoop Facebook page.
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