MR. MEYER, a Christian man from West Germany, was visiting in Communist Russia about two years ago. His visit was over now, and he planned to make last-minute reservations for the return trip to Germany.
Standing on a downtown curb in a large Russian city, Mr. Meyer wondered which direction he should take to go home, for he was unfamiliar with the place. He looked across the street where a cheerful-looking traffic policeman was directing traffic. The thought entered his mind, “Why not ask the policeman the way to the travel office.”
The next moment, Mr. Meyer had crossed to the officer’s side. Above the noise of traffic he shouted his inquiry. The policeman, hearing Mr. Meyer’s heavy German accent, turned to him in delighted surprise. “I learned some German in World War II,” said the policeman. “It would be wonderful if you and I could get together and talk in German, for I would like to practice it again. In a few minutes it will be my lunch hour, and then you and I can go over to that restaurant and have a chat.” Mr. Meyer agreed, and in a few minutes the two men were happily chatting over a cup of coffee.
The two men had a long chat, but all the while Mr. Meyer wished that he could tell the friendly policeman about his Saviour. He prayed to the Lord to tell him what he should do, for he knew that if he talked about the Lord he might easily be turned over to the Russian secret police. Then any future visits to Russia would be impossible.
Suddenly Mr. Meyer felt that he had the answer. In his briefcase he had two Bibles — one in Romanian and one in German. In the middle of their conversation he somewhat absent-mindedly opened his briefcase and removed the German Bible. He knew it was safe to display it, for visitors to Russia are permitted to keep anything they own. He opened his Bible, and then glanced suddenly at his watch.
“Forgive me!” he exclaimed. “I’d forgotten all about the time! I’ve enjoyed our conversation immensely. Now I must be on my way to pick up my ticket. You’ll excuse me please? Auf Wiedersehen!”
Rushing off, he left the open Bible on the restaurant table, praying that the policeman would take the Bible home and read it.
The next year, Mr. Meyer was again in the same Russian city. He stood on the same corner again, and noticed the same policeman directing traffic. Then he left the curb to talk to him again. The policeman was overjoyed to see his old friend, and said, “I have your Bible. You left it behind you that day in the restaurant, when you rushed off so quickly.”
“And so I did,” said Mr. Meyer. “Tell me, do you still have it?”
“Oh,” said the policeman, “The Bible is in my home, and I read it every day. Have you come to take it back?”
“Not if you would like to keep it!”
“Do you mean what you say?” exclaimed the policeman. His voice held such joy that Mr. Meyer recognized the Spirit of God at work.
“Yes. Keep the Bible. It will be a gift that God will bless.”
“God has already,” the policeman said, and his eyes shone with gratitude. “I have found Jesus Christ. What more could one desire? You have given me more than all the world’s wealth put together.”
How wonderful are the ways of God! This dear man is now a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. We can pray for him, and others like him in Communist countries, where the gospel cannot be proclaimed with liberty like it is in these favored lands. How thankful we should be that we can read our Bibles without hindrance or fear!
Dear young friend, the Lord Jesus is the Saviour of sinners everywhere — Russians, Germans, Americans, English, Africans, Indians, Eskimos, Jews and Gentiles... boys and girls and older folks. God says, “Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Rom. 10:13. But have you called upon Him yet? Can you say, “Yes, Jesus died for me; I am His and He is mine"?
“He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him.” John 3:36.
ML-05/02/1971