Show Forth His Praises!

The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.* But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light: which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but have now obtained mercy.* (Isa 9.2; 1 Pet 2.9-10)
Souls cry out all over the world, some in poverty-ridden, sorrowing bodies; others behind self-assured faces. It doesn’t matter who or where they are.* They are all in the prison of sin.
A man I’ll call Sadiq* strode confidently down the dusty street through the early summer sun.* The sun glittered on the buildings’ aluminum roofs like tiny sparks of fire, and the locusts turned it into music.* The affect was like a fantasia.
Raised in a devout home, Sadiq knew his people’s holy book, the Qu’ran, by memory.* Ever since he could remember, he and his father, the Imam (“holy man”), had partaken in the solemn religious services with utmost reverence and dedication.*Taught thoroughly in their ways, Sadiq took his father’s place after his death.* The village respected their young leader loyally.
All his life Sadiq had lived in this village.*To him there was nothing new in the age-old customs or the hot, dusty atmosphere.* What was new, however, was a team of white men who had arrived from the west.
They came unexpectedly.*Unlike other white missionaries who were immodest, flippant and rude, these white men and women treated the people with a respect which surprised Sadiq.*With quick, observant eyes, Sadiq critiqued their every move, watching to see how they reacted.*Orderly, humble and unspoiled, these white men and women gained rapid favor with everyone. The men were kind and open to questions. The women were dressed modestly and wore veils to cover their hair (something which impressed Sadiq very much. He had been very disappointed by Christian women who did not dress modestly.)
Sadiq sensed that something was different about these people.* Curiosity rose the longer he watched them.* Being an intelligent man, he decided he would visit them, and learn whether they were to be trusted.
There was nothing suspicious in their lives.*The white men were as polite to each other as they were to all.*Intrigued, he could be silent no more.* He must question them.
One afternoon, Sadiq entered the compound and glanced around.* A man slightly older than the rest was talking to a younger man beneath the shelter of a pavilion.* Sadiq approached.
The two men smiled as he came near; the younger sprinted to the office indoors while the older remained.* “Peace to you, sir.* My name is John*.”* He extended a cordial hand.
Sadiq returned the greeting and the two men settled down affably in the dust.* Fixing his trained eyes on John, Sadiq posed a question, full of meaning: “What do you think of the Qu’ran?”
Smile undiminished, John replied simply, “I believe it is a book.”
Sadiq was taken aback.*He expected the man to say it was false, and Sadiq could then argue with him.* But John had simply stated the obvious.* Sadiq attempted to attack the man through another angle.* “What do you think of Mohammed?”
“I believe he was a man.”
Sadiq grew impatient.* Even though John looked intelligent, was he stupid?* “Do you think he was a prophet?” he prompted.
“Well,” John said slowly and carefully, “the Bible says there are many prophets in the ‘last days.’* So yes, I think he was a prophet.”
John’s confidence disarmed and fascinated the learned Imam. Since Muslims are encouraged to read books by other religions so they can defend Islam, Sadiq requested a Bible.* His earnest, forthright mind reached out for the truth like parched ground absorbs one drop of water.* The teachings he had always taken for granted seemed unsatisfactory.* With consuming zeal, Sadiq studied the Bible.
Soon he was back at the compound.* “Your Holy Book has an old part and a new part.* Why?” he demanded of John as they sat down together again.
John’s peaceful face brightened and he began to expound to Sadiq the entire story of the gospel.* He told him of Adam’s sin, and of man’s history until Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection. He described the apostles and how the churches were established, with a deep love of Jesus. The story unfolded to Sadiq in a way he had never heard before.* He listened, riveted.
At the end of the conversation, Sadiq sat in thoughtful silence.* At last he remarked in a pondering tone, “Some of these things are in the Qu’ran.* I will think of these things.”
Sadiq did think of them.*The more he considered the sayings of the white man, comparing it to what he was always taught, the more he had the feeling that there were two different perspectives to this.*One must be false; the other true.* Which was which?
When Sadiq came again to the compound, his face no longer looked like an arrogant or confident Imam. Instead, he was perplexed, almost sad. He was now but a simple man trying to grasp his way through darkness of sin for the light of Jesus Christ.
“I do not understand some of the things in this Book,” Sadiq said to John.*“Our holy book says that Yeshua was a good teacher, but not God.* But your Book tells me that Yeshua was someone different.* Who is Yeshua?”
John was silent a moment, his head bowed in prayer. Then, raising his face to meet the searching one before him, he began, “Let us imagine that there is a dark prison.* The walls are locked tight.* Anyone who has ever sinned must be locked into the prison.* Who has sinned?* Have you sinned?”
“Oh yes,” agreed Sadiq readily.* “I know I have sinned.”
“Have I and the other white men sinned?” asked John.
“Yes, you have sinned,” Sadiq replied without hesitation.
John asked if everyone, even the prophets and Mohammed had sinned.
“Yes, the Qu’ran says so,” admitted Sadiq.
“So the whole world must be in prison.* Do you think you could come out of the prison by doing good deeds, like giving away your day’s rice to another prisoner?” John queried.
Sadiq considered, thinking of the mounds of rice and thin bits of meat which constituted his diet.* “No.* That would not set me free because I have sinned.”
“Do you think it must be someone who never sinned?”
“Yes.”
“Does your holy book mention anyone who never sinned?”
Sadiq’s eyes flickered with recognition.* “Yes, Yeshua.”
John nodded. “Yeshua never sinned, so He could help everyone get out.* But there are two things you must do before you may become free,” he said, fixing his gaze solemnly on Sadiq’s face.* “You must admit you are in the prison, which you have done.* Then you must confess that you are guilty of the sins which put you into the prison.* Only after this can you ask Yeshua to let you out of the prison, and He can set you free.”
The light of Jesus slowly penetrated Sadiq’s heart.* For days he thought of this conversation.*For weeks he battled inside himself.* There was no doubt about the truth now.* Yet to publicly own the truth meant giving up everything—forsaking his position as the revered village leader and Imam.*Being cast off from his family, perhaps even killed by them.* Arrested and executed by the law for “treason.”* And yet…if he was to die now, still imprisoned in his heart, he knew he could never escape and would burn in hell forever.
At last, Sadiq returned to the compound, the day before the missionary team would leave.* His face and voice radiated with joy as he entered, and he looked so different!
Confessing his new faith in Yeshua, the Saviour of the world, Sadiq requested John and some of his friends to pray with him.* He then looked earnestly at his new brothers in the faith.* “I read in your holy Book that one must be baptized,” he said. *The missionaries were jubilant, for they had never told him he must be baptized but the Holy Spirit, whose word is faithful, had taught His new son.
The simple service was held in a private room inside the mission.* It was beautiful.* Though the ceremony was done in secret, it was as joyful as if a thousand angels were singing at once.* A new creature had been born into Christ’s kingdom.
The men stood together, talking, before saying good-bye, and Sadiq commented, “I know the difference now.* There were some who came here that called themselves Christians.* I saw a difference between them and you followers of Yeshua. Christians are noisy, immodest, and don’t obey their Holy Book.* But you followers of Christ are modest and quiet.* You live out what your Holy Book says.”
The only follower of Christ in his family, Sadiq began sharing Jesus Christ with everyone, including his wife and little child.*The other villagers marveled at the change in this man.* Once he had upheld the laws of Islam with a heavy fist; now he told everyone about Jesus with earnest zeal.* To the chagrin of the stoical Imams, Sadiq questioned them, “How can your religion be true if not even the Qu’ran teaches it?”* Some of his friends admired his bravery and began to question their own beliefs.* Others were infuriated, and turned Sadiq over to the police.* They imprisoned him, and thought they had silenced the voice which spoke the truth so boldly. Later he was released, only to preach Jesus once again.
The truth cannot be silenced.*Where light is, darkness must flee, for Jesus said, I am the light of the world.
~ “Anne”