I was born and raised in the heart of the Middle East. I was raised believing that there was no God, but in my teens I became a fervent Muslim. I was taught to hate Christians and the Christ they believe in. I was taught that these infidels were unclean and believe in lies. I even reached the point that I hated everyone, including my own family, who did not follow the Straight Path, the true religion of God. During this time of trouble and hatred, one evening when I was 17 years old, I was studying for my final exams when a Man in white appeared before me. Putting His arm around my shoulders, He said, “I am the Way, Truth and Life. I want you to follow and serve Me. You will face many problems, but I am with you. You will have victory in Me. You are mine.” In that moment, I felt peace like I had never felt before. I was in the presence of Peace Himself.
Who was this Man who called Himself the Way, Truth, and Life? I didn’t know, so I began seeking answers. A Christian told me that this is what Jesus called himself in the Bible, so I asked for a copy of the Bible. That night I read the whole New Testament through twice until I finally found John 14:6.
Two days later, God sent me a dream. In the dream I was walking in a forest with a group of people. We came to a dark place where some of the others were afraid to continue, but I said I would keep going. This was repeated four times until finally I was walking alone. The road ended at a small, dilapidated house with a single candle burning inside. As I entered the house, the light went out. I knelt and closed my eyes. “Why?” I asked.
Suddenly I felt a hand on my shoulder. Opening my eyes and standing up, I found that the old house had become new and was filled with light. The same Man was standing beside me again. “Go,” He said. “Do not worry. I will always be with you.”
This was how God touched my life, and I still feel His hand on my shoulder every day. I know that He has a plan and a purpose for my life, and I am following His steps and direction, doing my best to serve Him.
Christ alone can clean our hearts and minds of hatred and fill them with the fruit of the Spirit, “love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23). I invite you to follow Christ and allow Him to change you. Jesus is the only way to the Father. “Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'” (John 14:6)
