Mostafa was a committed and devout Muslim so when he heard his cousin Mohammed had become a Christian, he knew what he had to do.
Determined to defend Islam and his family’s honor, Mostafa formulated a plan to find Mohammed and kill him.
He attended a church service to spy on his cousin and find out as much information on him as he could.
But nothing could prepare Mostafa for the effect hearing the Gospel would have on his own soul.
Later that night, he had a dream that changed his life forever.
After the service Mostafa had confessed his original reason for visiting Mohammed, but also expressed his deep desire to learn more about who Jesus was.
Mohammed could have shriveled up in fear, too afraid to let Mostafa know anything else for concern of being killed. But instead, he took Mostafa to his house and continued to water the seed the Lord had already planted in his heart.
And after that evening, Mostafa had an incredible dream where He heard from Jesus directly.
CBN News reported:
“As he slept, he had a dream. Jesus appeared to him on the cross and said, “I did all of this because I love you, and I want you to be free from your sins.”
Absolutely incredible!
It is well known the Lord uses different methods to reach His people and with Muslims he often appears to them through dreams and visions. God uses all people and situations to soften the hearts of those who are lost and Mostafa was no exception.
Excited about his dream and what was happening in his life, Mostafa eagerly told his cousin what he had dreamed and together they prayed for his salvation.
Open Doors USA reported:
“Through tears, Mostafa screamed to God: “I planned to kill my cousin, Your follower. But now I am prepared to give my life for You myself.”
The following month, Mostafa was baptized with his cousin standing next to him. He hasn’t told his family that he and Mohammed are now followers of Jesus. Currently, the two young men are living as secret believers, following Jesus in the place He has provided for them.”
A would-be killer of Christians coming to Christ, beautiful isn’t it?
Remind you of anyone?
How about Paul (then known as Saul) who actually did kill countless Christians until the Lord literally temporarily blinded him with His light on the road to Damascus?
John Piper points out that God uses men like Paul (and Mostafa can even be added to this category) to provide hope to those who think they’ve “sinned too much” to ever receive the forgiveness of Christ. Piper also explains that the transformation of these men is a beautiful example of Christ’s patience on display.
After all, 1 Timothy 1:15 states “The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost”.
This is the good news of the Gospel! Even those who were at war with Christ can be saved.
While some Christians are afraid to witness to Muslims and automatically dismiss them as “unreachable”, nothing could be further from the truth.
The truth is, Muslims are converting to Christianity at an increasing speed.
And as Christians, we must continue to pray for Muslims. The story of Mostafa’s conversion from Islam to Christianity shows the living power of Jesus Christ can transform even the most radical anti-Christ followers into His sons and daughters.
The stakes of Muslims leaving Islam to follow Christ are life or death. If they are found out in their countries or families, they could lose their lives. Because of this, many converts are forced to live in isolation and keep their faith a secret.
So as you pray, please pray specifically for Mostafa, that he may withstand any pressure to return to his former ways and that the healing Gospel of Christ can take deep roots within his heart.
Who knows, one day he may even lead more of his family to Christ!
In addition to praying, take a look at your own environment. You might have a chance right where you live to share the Gospel with a Muslim.
Think there aren’t many Muslims in the U.S.?
According to Pew Research, by 2040, Muslims will become the nation’s second-largest religious group after Christians.
And Pew Research stated by 2050, the U.S. Muslim population is projected to reach 8.1 million. That’s 8.1 million people who have the chance to hear the life-changing truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
What an honor the Lord is bringing the nations to us here to give us the opportunity to be part of His plan to make His name known to the nations.
And let the powerful story of Mostafa and Mohammed be a sweet reminder at the power of the Gospel. The Gospel is alive and active and the fruit of its words are leading to an incredible harvest. Are you ready to be a worker?
Were you surprised to learn Jesus appeared to Mostafa in a dream? Do you have any Muslims you know you can begin to develop a relationship with and share the Gospel?
Tell us your thoughts in the comments below! And be sure to share this story to show how the power of Jesus Christ can change lives!