” Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and even though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls ” ( 1 Peter 1:8,9 )
Pastor Richard Wurmbrand, a leader of the underground church in Communist Romania, wrote ” Christianity has become dramatic with us ” When he was still living behind the Iron curtain, he had met a Russian captain. He loved God and longed after God, but he had never seen a Bible. Richard had read to him the Sermon on the Mount and the Parables of Jesus Christ. After hearing them, he danced around the room in rapturous joy proclaiming,” What a wonderful beauty ! How could I live without knowing this Christ ?”. When Richard read to him , the passion and the crucifixion of Christ, he fell in an armchair and began to weep bitterly. Then, Richard read to him the story of the Resurrection of Christ. When he heard this wonderful news, he shouted for joy,” He is alive !”, and again began to dance around the room. When Richard told him ” Let us pray “, he fell on his knees. He did not know our holy phrases. His words of prayer were, ” O, God ! What a fine chap You are ! If I were You and You were me, I would have never forgiven You. But, You have forgiven my sins and You are a really very fine chap ! I love You with all my heart “. That Russian captain knew he would immediately lose his position as an officer, that prison and perhaps death in jail would surely follow. He gladly paid the price and he was ready to lose everything for Jesus Christ.