49 A Room in Moscow
In the fall of 1980, twenty Christians were secretly worshipping in a room in a small house in Moscow. As the Christians were studying the Bible, all of a sudden there was a loud pounding on the door. Everyone in the room became deathly pale and quiet as they heard a voice demanding that the door be opened. Everyone knew who was outside. One of the Christians slowly got up and unlocked the door and ten soldiers burst into the room. The soldiers were stone-faced and brandishing machine guns.
The commander of the soldiers confidently walked in and surveyed the room. The commander announced that he heard a rumor that Christians were worshipping in this house and that this was illegal under Communist law and the penalty for this violation was death. The tension in the air was palpable and no one looked up at the commander.
However, the commander continued, he believes that this may be a mistake. The commander announced to the people in the room that he would give everyone a chance to leave this room in peace if all they do is admit that they made a mistake. They then were to loudly renounce God and the Bible to the commander and they were free to go.
Everyone nervously looked at each other with fear in their eyes. Fourteen of the believers got up, and they each went to the commander, renouncing God and the Bible and exited the room. Only six believers remained, although trembling with fear, but they would not get up and make the proclamation that the commander asked.
Several minutes after the last person left the room, the commander quietly closes the door behind him. All eyes were locked onto the commander as the remaining six believers held hands together in dreaded anticipation of what would be their final moments. However, the commander simply smiled at them and took a seat next to them. The soldiers then laid their guns by the back wall and sat down also with the six believers.
The commander explained that he and his soldiers are Christians also, but they had to make sure that there were no non-believers in the room. The commander picked up a Bible and asked that they continue the Bible study.
How strong is your faith?
- Recommended reading: Matthew 26:69-75
