There is nothing like a Friday morning Bible study. Of course, the real fun comes when no one else shows up!! This is becoming a recurring theme whenever I show up. Maybe I should take the hint?!
It was Great Friday, so I knew there was a possibility that others in the study might not be there. Oh well. All it did was provide me with an opportunity to witness. And here we go!
So, a guy walks up to the bus stop. He should have never done that! Sadad was from Somalia. We ended up talking for about thirty minutes. Glad the bus system was as reliable as usual!
Of course, he was Muslim, being that he was from Somalia. He told me that he lives with some Christians. He also told me he really likes Christians. He had met a bunch of them since coming to the U.S.
I asked him what he thought happens when we die, and he replied, “There will be a Paradise.”
As we continued talking, he also told me that he thinks we all basically believe in and worship the same God. So I asked, “Can any of your prophets lie?” He told me they could not. I explained that one of his prophets, Jesus (who they call Isa), said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no one comes to the father but by me.” I added, “So, you do believe that Jesus is the only way to Heaven, correct?”
This led us down a fascinating road. Sadad didn’t believe that Jesus was the way to the Father because he didn’t believe Jesus died on the cross. This is a common Muslim teaching. And, of course, he didn’t believe in the Resurrection either, but he did believe Jesus would come back at the end of time to unify everyone into one belief system. Hmm…. Sounds like someone else I have heard about.
As I walked Sadad through the Ten Commandments, he admitted that he had done some bad things. I responded by asking, “What is the worst thing you have ever done?” (Sometimes I will ask that question and sometimes I will not. It can lead to some interesting responses.) He told me that he had once stolen an older lady’s purse when he was in Somalia, and he had also beaten up an older man and messed his face up pretty good. Then he confessed, “My conscience. I can’t get these off of my conscience.”
The fact that his conscience is bothering him is actually a great thing! It means the Holy Spirit is working on him, which makes it much easier to share with him why he needs forgiveness. And, it’s only Jesus who can forgive those sins and wash them away by His blood.
Romans 2:15
Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)
1 John 3:20
For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.
Sadad ended up telling me that he was on his way to some drug counseling, and since the bus was running late, he needed a ride to the train station. I told him I would give him a ride. Another guy had walked up and asked if he could have a ride to the station, too. So, he hopped in as well!
Daniel had a pretty strong faith. As we were talking back and forth, Sadad was listening to everything.
When I dropped them off, they both took some materials to read, and I made sure each of them had a blessing to pay for their train ride. They were both very grateful.
After all of that witnessing, I realized I was hungry! So, I hit a Waffle House on the way home. One of the waitresses there had been visiting the Baptist Collegiate ministry at her college for a couple of years, and she was a Muslim!! Those folks at Valdosta State were doing some good witnessing, and she was doing some thinking. We had a great conversation, and she took both booklets I offered her. Then she wanted some books for the leaders of BCM! Something is happening down there at VSU!
What is the moral of the story? Hope that none of your friends show up for Bible study!! It can lead to a great Friday morning of witnessing!!
Until the nets are full,
P.S. If you want to stay motivated to tell everyone you can about the great love of Jesus for mankind on the cross, this DVD can help! You can pick up copies of Do Your Job at the link below.
https://markcahill.org/product-category/dvds/
P.P.S.
