Suppose you were Muslim and Jesus appeared to you in a dream and called you to follow him?
Dreams and Visions is a collection of stories from the world of Islam by Pastor Tom Doyle. Doyle has spent 11 years as a missionary in the Middle East and Central Asia. During this time he’s encountered a staggering number of Muslims who were first introduced to Jesus through a vision or dream so powerful they eventually turned from Islam to Christ. Conversion can result in execution, but these stories tell how former Muslims have found hope and peace from knowing Christ (based on Amazon web site—link below to order book).
COMMENT #1. Skeptical about dreams and visions? Remember: Pharaoh had them (Genesis 41). So did Isaiah (Isaiah 6) and Daniel (Daniel 7; 8; 10) and Saul of Tarsus (Acts 9:1-19). In fact, in his Pentecost sermon, the apostle Peter quoted the prophet Joel . . .
And in the last days it shall be God declares
that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh,
and your sons and your daughters shall prophecy,
and your young men shall see visions,
and your old men shall dream dreams . . . (Acts 2:17).
According to Joel and Peter, visions and dreams are characteristic of the last days—the days between the first and second comings of Christ. This may make us uncomfortable because of the abuses we’ve seen of spiritual gifts. Or certain doctrines might drive us to reject this. But God’s saving work is more important than our comfort. And when we get to heaven we’ll find that all our doctrinal systems had little holes here and there!
COMMENT #2. God must be laughing. Preposterous to presume a country can “close” itself to God!
Why do the nations rage
and the peoples plot in vain?
The kings of the earth set themselves
and the rulers take counsel together
against the LORD and against his Anointed, saying,
“Let us burst their bonds apart
and cast away their cords from us.”
He who sits in the heavens laughs;
the LORD holds them in derision (Psalm 2:1-4).
COMMENT #3. These miracles don’t eliminate missionaries. When Jesus commissioned disciples to go and make disciples of all peoples, he promised to be with them (Matthew 28:18-20). This is Jesus being “with them” in a surprising and truly wonder-full way!
COMMENT #4. We can be encouraged to pray and to give and (if the Lord calls) to go. Islam seems an impenetrable mission field. Radical Muslims are spreading their doctrines with force and violence: “Convert or die!” But Jesus is Lord! So let’s pray! Let’s give! And, if the Lord calls us, let’s go! We know how it all ends! John’s vision in Revelation 5:11 will be fulfilled . . .
And [the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders]
sang a new song (to the Lamb), saying,
“Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals,
for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God
from every tribe and language and people and nations . . . ”
In an inspiring book, The Poetic Wonder of Isaac Watts, Douglas Bond introduces Watts to us. The book is part of the Long Line of Godly Men Profile series edited by Steve Lawson. Hardcover is available from Amazon for under $14, the Kindle version for less than $8. I mention that because I recommend the book to you, especially if you’re interested in how God used ordinary people in the past to influence his people for good even to the present.
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