Loving People

Recently I read about how a Muslim, Mutee’a Al-Fad, in Saudi Arabia believed in Jesus as Lord and Saviour. He was born and raised to be a staunch Muslim. He shared that amongst many erroneous things that he was taught about Christianity, the most important thing that he was taught was to hate all those who do not worship the god of Islam, Allah. He had also intended to go to Afghanistan to fight the Soviet Union alongside Osama bin Laden. How then did he later become a Christian? Two families changed his life.

After graduating from college, he went to a western country to do graduate studies. There, he joined an organisation that teamed him up with a family that they might help him know more about the culture and way of life of that country. He did not know that it was a Christian organization. Had he known that, he would never have joined it. This changed the course of his life forever. A young couple later contacted him who was to help him with his basic needs. This family loved him in a way that far exceeded his expectations, one that he did not experience even from his fellow Muslims. Although they did not share the gospel with him, they shared Christ with him through their actions and their lifestyle. He could see joy and peace in them. They were a source of light shining out of them. He wondered as to why they were so different.

Some years later, he joined a local firm and met a gentleman whom he felt was a model for what a Christian man living a Christian life is like. He was impressed with his faith, his joy, his walk, his peace and the light that was shining out of him. Later, the Christian gentleman invited him to his house. There he met his wife and children who were just like him. He felt that this family was just like the family he met when he was in college. He then could not hold back his curiosity and asked the man why he was so different from the rest. The Christian told him that he became who he was because he accepted Jesus as Saviour and Lord and it was the Spirit of the Lord who brought out the fruits the Muslim was witnessing in him.

This Muslim later went to a church where he attended a Bible study on the Book of John every Sunday. He gradually understood the deity of Christ and how helpless he was and how he desperately he needed to be saved. He became a born again Christian who would do anything to serve the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. His life changed completely. He was no longer that arrogant and self-righteous man that he was. His heart was softened and he became a new creation noticeable by everyone around him. Mutee’a Al-Fad was moved by two families who showed to him the reality of the new life in Christ. They were “the light of the world … , let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” (Matt 5:14-16).

These two families were the critical instruments that brought to Mutee’a Al-Fad God’s precious salvation: eternal life. They not only showed him the unconditional love of God—because their lives contained the life of Christ, they overflowed with love, joy, peace and the life of Christ.

Dear Christians, if you lead a normal Christian life where you have a lively relationship with your Saviour and Lord Jesus Christ, it is impossible not to attract people to Christ. If Christ who is full of abundant life—love, joy, peace, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control—lives in you richly, your life will surely be used to lead lost souls to the Lord. Hence, if you want to lead people to Christ, you must start not by learning the externals but by working hard at your inner spiritual life that it may overflow with the fragrance of Christ.