PEACE THAT OVERCOMES FEAR
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
— John 14:27 (NIV)
Yesterday we shared the first part of the life story of Maulana the Islamic terrorist persecutor from Indonesia. Here is part two of his dramatic conversion story:
Our focused activity on Ambon was how to close churches. From the persecution, the Christian people did not fight back. When I see children with no parents running around the church, I feel guilty.
As time passes, my heart becomes softer, and then love enters my heart. There’s a change in my heart that I become sensitive and start to love them slowly. The love becomes thick. One night, I was fasting and praying, I said, “God, you’re the one who creates my heart, show me your righteousness.” In the middle of my heart-crying, I saw a man appear to me. There was fresh blood spattered on the bottom of his white robe, He greeted me with “Salaam Al I Kum,” (Peace be with you!) I tried to figure out who I had seen in my vision. It could be the angel of Gabriel, or Mohammed, or could be Nabi Isa, maybe He is Jesus.
To earn income, I became a distributor of an Islamic magazine in Solo and then went to a small town called Desa Mangu. One day I was distributing magazines, and an old man called to me. He said, “Maulana, come here. I was waiting for you.” It was Friday at lunchtime. He asked me to eat rice and noodle sarimi together with him. Then he prayed in the name of Jesus before eating. I was shocked!
After lunch, he brought me to a room, and he picked up a large Bible and opened it to John 14:27. It said, “I am leaving you with a gift, peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.” The mystery of the voice is Isa (Jesus). I confess that Jesus is God! Jesus is great! And I cry, and I received Him, Isa, as the people of Ambon whom I’ve persecuted.
Now that I believe Jesus is Savior, there is a miracle that happens in my life. What I received from God is an assignment, instead of regrets. My first Christmas morning as a Christian, I was walking with courage and joy on my way to church. But all of a sudden there’s a group of young people standing in front of me. One of them knew me and asked, “Where are you going?”
I said, “To church.” They said, “Stop! You’re not going there!” Then punches from all directions come to my body. When I was there in the hospital, I prayed like Stephen prayed. “God, forgive them for they know not what they were doing.” Spiritual strength from within!
That is powerful and gives me the strength to be brave and give testimony. I deliver to the people that this government is under His authority. God’s authority works in every believer so that we have the freedom to speak. The authority is from the Lord. God’s authority is in every believer, so you don’t need to be afraid.
RESPONSE: Today I will submit to the peace Jesus gives that overcomes troubles and fear.
PRAYER: Pray that many more terrorists will have an encounter with Jesus and become His follower.
Standing Strong Through The Storm (SSTS), a daily devotional message by SSTS author Paul Estabrooks. © 2011 Open Doors International. Used by permission.
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