My first visit to Russia
Mike Mullins
(9/11/01)
For such a long time the Bible was forbidden in Russia. the doors are open now, but for how long? I remember when I visited Vladivostok. I went out into the streets one day with a christian friend of mine from one of the local churches. I had a number of Bibles with me.
While I was out I met an old man. I stopped him and through my local friend asked the man if he would like a Bible. The man looked at me, put down the two bags of bread that he was carrying and asked to look at the Bible.
He looked through the pages with wonderment, almost as if it was an old treasured family album. He then picked up his two bags of bread and offered them to me in exchange for the Bible. I said that it was free gift and that if he wanted he could have.
The man cried, hugged me and kissed the Bible. He was so overcome with emotion. I had never seen anything like it before. I know for sure that would not be the response if I were to give out Bibles on the streets here in Ireland.
He looked through the pages with wonderment, almost as if it was an old treasured family album. He then picked up his two bags of bread and offered them to me in exchange for the Bible. I said that it was free gift and that if he wanted he could have.
I remember in our house at home we used to have a big leather covered Bible. In it we had the television licence, dog licence, and insurance policy, because it was the safest place in the house. No-one was going to touch the Bible in our house, and I'm sure our house wasn't the only one like that. This is not how God intended His sacred word to be used, for it contains the words of life.
"For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any two edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12)
The Bible contains the mind of God, the condition of man, the way of salvation, the judgment of sinners and the happiness of believers. It's teachings are Holy, it's laws binding, it's histories are true, and it's decisions are unchangeable. Read it to be wise, believe it to be saved and practice it to be Holy. It contains light to direct you, food to support you and comfort to cheer you...Christ is it's grand subject, Our good it's design. The glory of God is it's end. Read it slowly, read it often, read it prayerfully...It is the Book of books. It is the way God makes Himself known to man.