Yuri, imprisoned in Russia in the 1940's at the age of 12 for stealing a loaf of bread to feed his family...because he was caught, his family starved to death, and he only survived because he was put in prison. Years later he was still imprisoned, lost in the beauracracy of the day. But God sent a miracle...He sent a worn, used Gideon Bible into the prison where Yuri was, and Yuri became a Christian. And even though he was in bondage, he was freed.
My friend who went to Russia several years ago told Yuri's story this morning in Sunday School. He told how he had visited a prison filled with violent political prisoners, of the barrenness and filth of the aging prison, then of getting to the top of the spiraling staircase in the dormitory where the prisoners were and finding fresh paint, clean floors and walls, ivy painted on the walls, and meeting Yuri. He told my friend, "For me, to live is Christ and to die is gain." (Phil 1:21) Yuri had such a peace that even living almost his entire life in prison was nothing. Because it was there that he had found Christ. He told of the many prisoners there who had found Christ within those crumbling walls who now had a hope for the future, who now were set free in their hearts even though they would never be set free of the prison walls.
Four years later, my friend returned to Russia where he was scheduled to speak in a worship servicein a church. As he sat waiting, he watched the little children being led in to sit on the front row. As the old man who was leading them turned to sit down, my friend recognized him....it was Yuri! In Russian, he said to him, "Yuri! You've been set free!" To which Yuri replied, "Ah, but I was already set free in my heart!"
The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed. (Luke 4:18)
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