God Is the Best Witness

By Anna Likholet

At the age of 18, I longed to share Jesus with others. But I was afraid.

“I’m scared,” I prayed often. “I don’t know how to share You.”

Image © Pacific Press

Then I learned that I needed surgery, and I was hospitalized in Tula, a city located about 2 ½ hours by car from Russia’s capital, Moscow. Three of the six beds in my hospital room were occupied when I arrived. The other female patients were reading or watching television. My operation was scheduled for the next day.

“What should I do?” I thought. “What does someone do before an operation?”

I opened my Bible.

The woman across from me immediate spoke up.

“Are you a Christian?” she asked.

“Yes,” I said.

“Which church do you go to?” she said.

I didn’t want to be mocked for being a Seventh-day Adventist. Many Russians belong to another Christian denomination and dismiss Adventists as members of a sect.

“I’m a Protestant,” I said.

The woman wasn’t satisfied. “Which Protestant church do you belong to?” she said.

What could I say? “I’m a Seventh-day Adventist,” I said.

A big smile lighted up the woman’s face.

“Wow, a Seventh-day Adventist!” she exclaimed. “I know Adventists! They are the best people!”

The woman spoke enthusiastically about the church, its work, and Zaoksky Adventist University located outside Tula. The two other patients listened silently. They had never heard about the Adventist Church.

“Adventists are good Christians!” the woman said. “My father knows some nice Adventists.”

As she spoke, the physician entered the room. He was surprised to see her.

“What are you doing here?” he said.

“What do you mean?” she replied.

“I ordered you to be discharged yesterday,” he said. “You should already be at home.”

Her husband picked her up within 30 minutes.

Looking at her empty bed, I realized that God had answered my prayers in an unexpected way. God had revealed Himself on His own in my hospital room. I hadn’t done anything. God had done everything. As a result, the other patients knew that I was an Adventist and that Adventists love Jesus with all their hearts.

Before the hospital stay, I went to church and believed in Jesus. But being a Christian is more than that. Being a Christian is also telling others about Jesus. If you long to share Him, He can arrange it. He will do everything for you.

This mission story illustrates Mission Objective No. 1 of the Seventh-day Adventist Church’s “I Will Go” strategic plan: “To revive the concept of worldwide mission and sacrifice for mission as a way of life involving not only pastors but every church member, young and old, in the joy of witnessing for Christ and making disciples.”

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Further Thought:

“Christ’s ascension to heaven was the signal that His followers were to receive the promised blessing. For this they were to wait before they entered upon their work. When Christ passed within the heavenly gates, He was enthroned amidst the adoration of the angels.

Image © Stan Myers from GoodSalt.com

As soon as this ceremony was completed, the Holy Spirit descended upon the disciples in rich currents, and Christ was indeed glorified, even with the glory which He had with the Father from all eternity. The Pentecostal outpouring was Heaven’s communication that the Redeemer’s inauguration was accomplished. According to His promise He had sent the Holy Spirit from heaven to His followers as a token that He had, as priest and king, received all authority in heaven and on earth, and was the Anointed One over His people. …

They could speak the name of Jesus with assurance; for was He not their Friend and Elder Brother? Brought into close communion with Christ, they sat with Him in heavenly places. With what burning language they clothed their ideas as they bore witness for Him!” — Ellen G. White, The Acts of the Apostles, Pages 38, 46.

Discussion Questions:

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Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/friday-further-thought-jesus-opens-way-through-veil/