A Red Russian Saved

 •  4 min. read  •  grade level: 6
 
This young Russian girl had known only atheism all her life. Naturally she became an earnest propagandist among young Communists. As a prominent leader of a godless group of Russian young folks she earned for herself the title "The Infidel." How marvelous to know that the gospel of God's love and grace finally wrought in power through the Spirit to deliver her from communism and skepticism, and brought her into the light and joy of eternal salvation!
Her repentance was deep and abiding, as she realized how many she may have led into the dark labyrinth of infidelity and wickedness. Her desire was, in some measure, to undo the harm she had done by owning her terrible guilt publicly.
Against the advice of some, she attended a meeting of the so-called "Godless." A Christian friend accompanied her to lend her support and to record the result. The latter states as follows: "After the singing of the 'Internacionale' Vasca asked permission to speak. She went to the front and gave a splendid testimony of her faith in Christ, and of what He had done for her. She humbly begged their pardon for her past influence in misleading them, confessing that she had been blind, and had not then known that the way she was following led to eternal perdition.
"As her speech ended there was dead silence. No one had interrupted her, and she concluded her testimony by raising her beautiful voice in singing, 'What a Friend we have in Jesus.' Then she was arrested and escorted from the hall.
"Sometime later I visited Vasca in prison. My heart was grieved for her. She is only 19, and young in the faith; but she loves the Lord and from the start resolved—at all costs—to confess Him.
"Often hungry through insufficient food, she was pale and weak, but there was a bright light in her eyes as she spoke of the peace in her heart.
"As she stood behind the bars, I asked her if she regretted the step she had taken? 'No,' was her reply. `If they should set me free, I would return to tell of the love of Christ. I am happy because the Lord permits me to suffer for His sake.'
"Later the young disciple was sent to Siberia. The only reason given was that she had become a believer in Christ. Vasca managed to get a letter to'er friends in which she wrote: 'It is not necessary for me to describe conditions here. You know them too well. I thank the Lord for grace given me. Sister Anastasia and I have been sent to the workshop. The work is hard, and Sister A— not well, so I do part of her work as well as my own. We work twelve to thirteen hours a day! The food is insufficient, as it is with you. My heart is so full of His love and I know His grace is sufficient for me.'
"In the workshop I tell them all He has done for me—a sinner; that I was lost, and He made me a new creature in Christ Jesus—a new creation. How can I be silent as to this? They condemn me, and each time punish me more; but I cannot be silent. NO, NEVER! Until the end of life, I cannot cease proclaiming His great love.'
"Desiring to publicly proclaim her faith by baptism, she wrote: 'Several brethren came, and at night broke the ice in the river and prepared a place where I and seven brothers were immersed. Oh, how happy I am, and how I long to undo the wrong I did to others, and all the suffering I caused before my conversion.' "
And so even in atheistic Russia, in spite of all the bitter hatred towards God and Christ, the power of God triumphs. The gospel which reached the heart of that proud and bitter persecutor in the days of old, "Saul of Tarsus," still revolutionizes lives and transforms souls. Little wonder that he wrote: "I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith." Rom. 1:16, 17.
Reader, has that gospel reached YOUR heart, and saved YOU?