LLucas – A New Dawn
by Linda Lucas
At ICOM, Saturday morning was pregnant with impact as we spent the main session hearing what was happening in the world and how, in one man’s quest for TRUTH, God transformed a life that would impact the Muslim community for the Lord like never before.
Mosab Yousef, Son of Sheikh Hassan Yousef, a founding leader of Hamas, an internationally recognized terrorist organization, was imprisoned and tortured several times. After a providential encounter with a British tourist and the gift of a Bible, he started a six-year quest in search of Truth that jeopardized Hamas, endangered his family, and threatened his life. At one time he was working, and getting paid, for secret intelligence for four opposing countries, including the US, all at the same time. Since, he has become a follower of Jesus and has sought political asylum in America. He tells his story in the book he has written,Son of Hamas.
With intensely piercing eyes and pointedness of voice, Mosab shared his testimony to a captivated audience in a room of thousands in which you could hear a pin drop. How do we reach the Islamic, the Muslims we encounter? What can we say to reach them he was asked…. As Christians earnestly we want to know… what is the secret? As we all sat in eager anticipation his answer was … ‘show them love’. Crazy isn’t it? How is it we seek for answers to questions that our Lord has already given us? So profound and yet at the same time so simple.
Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. And love your neighbor as yourself. … They will know we are Christians by our love.
God is still radically changing lives, as he changed Saul he has changed Mosab, he has changed you and me. Though Mosab’s stance and presence filled the room with an air that commanded your attention, every once in a while he broke face and would crack a smile and a chuckle that revealed his personality and new found inner joy.
How can we not be excited about the everlasting spring that bursts forth from our very souls and overflow to those who are living in a dry and desert land? We cannot keep it to ourselves … we simply cannot! In light of the 6,900 yet unreached people groups in the world who are captive physically and spiritually, the message is intensely urgent… that is surely a disturbing testimony and message that demands a radical response.
