Some years ago, Mr. Meyer, a Christian gentleman from West Germany, was looking forward to going home from Communist Russia where he had been visiting. He needed to make reservations for his return trip, but he had no idea how to get to the train station in this large, unfamiliar Russian city.
As he looked up and down the street, he saw a cheerful-looking policeman directing traffic. I’ll ask him for directions, Mr. Meyer thought. Soon he was beside the policeman and above the noise of the traffic he shouted, “Can you please tell me the way to the train station?”
When the policeman heard Mr. Meyer’s heavy German accent, he was pleased. “I learned some German during World War II, and I’ve just been thinking that I need some practice in German before I forget it all. Could we possibly get together and talk in German for a while? My lunch hour starts in a few minutes. Would you have time to go with me to that restaurant over there and have a chat?”
Soon the two men were enjoying each other’s company as they ate lunch together and spoke in German. All the while, Mr. Meyer was wishing he could tell the friendly policeman about his Saviour. Counting on the verse, “The Lord is my helper” (Hebrews 13:66So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me. (Hebrews 13:6)), he quickly sent up a prayer, asking the Lord Jesus to help him. He knew that if he talked about Jesus, he could easily be turned over to the Russian Secret Police, and then any further visits to Russia would be forbidden.
Suddenly, Mr. Meyer felt he had the answer. In his briefcase he had a German Bible. As they continued to chat, he took out the Bible and opened it. Then he glanced at his watch. “Wow, I’ve been enjoying our conversation so much I forgot all about the time. I must go immediately and pick up my ticket. Please excuse me.” And Mr. Meyer rushed off, leaving the open Bible on the table and praying earnestly that the policeman would take it home and read it.
A year later Mr. Meyer was again in the same Russian city and again on the same street corner, and again, there was the same policeman directing traffic. With a prayer in his heart, Mr. Meyer went over to talk to him.
“I’m very glad to see you again,” said the policeman. “Remember when you rushed out of the restaurant, you left your Bible on the table?”
“Yes, I did,” answered Mr. Meyer. “Do you still have it?”
“Yes, and I read it every day. Have you come to take it back?” asked the policeman.
Mr. Meyer quickly answered, “Not if you would like to keep it.”
“Do you really mean that?” the policeman asked.
“Yes, keep the Bible. It is a gift to you that God will bless.”
“God has already blessed it,” said the policeman, his eyes shining with gratitude and joy. “In reading it, I’ve found the Lord Jesus as my Saviour. What more could anyone want? You’ve given me the best thing in the world!”
ML-09/19/2004