One of the most amazing events of the past few years has been the fall of Communism in Russia. Under the Communistic government, any form of religious worship was discouraged. Sometimes those who attended churches or Bible meetings were put in prison. Now, after more than 70 years of Communism in Russia, the good news of Jesus Christ is being allowed in that country. People are hearing for the first time that Jesus loves them and died for them. This wonderful news is now soothing and filling empty hearts there, as it has here.
However, the Russian people find it hard to trust others, because of the years with no freedom and many being thrown into prison unjustly. There are still many hardships in that vast land of 148,000,000 people. But many Christians are finding ways to help them and show them love, and tell them about the Saviour.
The village of Provideniya, one of many, had no meat, fruit or vegetables in the stores this past summer. So the Olson family flew the hour-and-twenty-minute trip from Nome, Alaska, to Russia. Their small plane was full of cabbages, potatoes, carrots, onions and medicines to give away. They also gave away many Bibles as they told the Russian people of God’s wonderful message of salvation. The people eagerly took the Bibles and are thinking about God’s kind and loving offer of free forgiveness for their sins. The Olsons saw tears on the Communist guards’ faces as they received those precious Bibles, a freedom they have never had before.
Another Christian family flew to Russia in a small airplane for the same purpose. On their return trip the airplane ran out of fuel just 10 minutes before they would have landed at Nome. Their plane went down into the Bering Sea. In the 1-1/2 minutes before the plane sank, the seven people got out with empty five-gallon gas cans. They used these to help them float in the 35-degree water with five-foot waves for 45 minutes before a helicopter came and lifted them out. Miraculously, every one of them survived the experience and are thanking the Lord Jesus for saving their lives. Only two were hospitalized overnight.
This dramatic event caused the city of Nome, Alaska, to think about God’s miraculous power. To the people who know the North and the cold water of the Bering Sea, the family’s survival is a real demonstration of God’s mercy.
God is speaking to people all around the world, not just in Russia and Alaska. Time is running out for people everywhere to accept His offer of forgiveness for their sins. He tells us in 2 Peter 3:99The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9) that He “is long-suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” The time to accept His loving offer will soon be over. He tells us in the Bible that He is going to come to take to heaven all those people who have trusted the Lord Jesus as their Saviour. We believe that time is coming very, very soon. Then the opportunity to accept God’s offer of free forgiveness for your sins will be over.
Many of those people in Russia who are hearing the good news of salvation for the first time are believing it and accepting Jesus as their Lord and Saviour. What about you? Can you say that Jesus died for your sins and that you are forgiven?
ML-02/27/1994