Can you imagine having to go to meet with other Christians in secret, out in the woods, or carefully sneaking to a house or apartment to be able to read the Bible and pray? That’s the way it was in Russia under the Communist government until around 30 years ago. Under the Communist government, any form of religious worship had been discouraged. Sometimes those who attended churches or Bible meetings were put in prison. But at last, after more than 70 years of Communism in Russia, that government came to an end. Finally, the good news of Jesus Christ was more openly allowed in that country. People heard — some for the first time — that Jesus loves them and died for them. This wonderful news soothed and filled many empty hearts there, just as it does in other countries.
However, the Russian people had suffered a lot. They had been betrayed, at times by people they thought they could trust. Some had been thrown into prison for no reason. They had suffered for years with no real freedom. So now, they still found it hard to trust others. The Lord used something interesting to begin to help them. There were many hardships in that vast land. They lacked many things that we take for granted, even basic necessities of life, like food. This gave an opportunity for Christians to find ways to help them, to show them love, and also to tell them about the Savior. No doubt this kindness helped pave the way for people who had been so hurt to learn to trust again.
One village, Provideniya, had no meat, fruit or vegetables in the stores one summer shortly after the fall of Communism. The Olson family from Alaska found out about this problem and wanted to help. They loaded up a small plane and flew the hour-and-twenty-minute trip from Nome, Alaska, to Russia. Their plane was full of cabbages, potatoes, carrots, onions and medicines to give to the people of Provideniya. They also took many Bibles to give away, and they told the villagers of God’s wonderful message of salvation. The people eagerly took the Bibles and started thinking about God’s kind and loving offer of free forgiveness for their sins. The Olsons saw tears on ex-Communist guards’ faces as they received those precious Bibles, a freedom they had 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 in the freezing cold Bering Sea. Somehow, in the 1½ minutes the plane was floating on the water before it sank, the seven people got out with empty five-gallon gas cans. They used these to help them float. They were in 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 thanked the Lord Jesus for saving their lives. Only two were hospitalized overnight.
This miraculous escape from death caused many in the city of Nome, Alaska, to think about God’s miraculous power. To the people who knew the North and the cold water of the Bering Sea, the family’s survival was a real demonstration of God’s power. Isn’t it wonderful how God can help those who serve Him and use even such scary things to cause more people to think about Him?
Right now, with the COVID-19 pandemic and many other problems, 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 patient toward us, not willing that any should have to go to hell, but wanting all to come to repentance. So, He has waited this long before shutting the door to heaven, and He is still waiting. But the time to accept His loving offer will be over someday soon. The Bible tells us that the Lord Jesus is going to come to take to heaven all the people who have trusted in Him as their Savior. 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 heard the good news of salvation for the first time, believed it and accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior. What about you? Can you say, “Jesus died for my sins,” and that you are forgiven?
Messages of God’s Love 10/3/2021