this tremendous task. Thank God we do not stand alone. We stand in HIM — His power, His wis dom, His love, His endurance, His grace. In the small upstairs studio room sits and works a trophy of His grace: a converted Muslim Sheikh, an M.A. graduate of the great Islamic University A1 Az- har, in Cairo. He is a Muslim Sheikh who was dissatisfied with Islam and wanted to reform it. He says, “ I wanted to be a ‘Luth er’ for Islam.” He wasn’t allowed to be; God had other purposes for His life. The love of God was the compelling force that brought him to Christ as he meditated on God’s love in Christ as against the “ sword of Islam.” Now he is broadcasting the message o f God’s redeeming love to those whose hearts are embit tered and full of hatred, telling them of a God who loves them and who will give them peace, a peace that goes beyond anything that the human mind can grasp, a peace that transcends the hatreds, and bitterness, the war s and bloodshed. There will be peace in these lands, when the Prince of Peace comes to rule and to reign. Now there is war, yet there is peace to those who will allow the Prince of Peace to rule and reign in their hearts, to which our brother and colleague, the former Muslim Sheikh, readily testifies. Pray that yet more o f the sons o f Ishmael will come to find the peace of God in these days of un rest and turmoil. ’’Peace, pe rfe c t peace, in thin dark world of ¡tint The blood o f «f emi h whisper* peace within. Peace, perfect peace, with nor « rows »urging round? On Jesus’ bosom nought but calm la found. Peace, perfect peace, our future all unknown? Jeans we know, and He la on the throne. Pence, perfect peace, death shadowing ns and ours? Jesus has vanquished death and all Its powers.” HD '25
by Fred D. Acord
T he morn ing was sunny and beautiful, the pine needles glistened in the sun, the birds sang, “God was in His heaven and all was well with the world” — or was it? Abu Ahmad met me at the gate as I started in the building to our ELWA studio. “ How are you?” I greeted him, “ Are you well and happy?” “ I am well, praise God” he re plied, “but not happy.” “ And why aren’t you happy this beautiful day. Is God dead?” I countered. “ Of course God is not dead — how could He be?” he replied, “but God is in heaven and I am here on earth.” He continued, “ I have no country, my home is gone, my people are being killed, and there is no peace — how can I be happy?” Abu Ahmad is a Palestinian refugee who had lost his home back in 1948 and has been living in refugee camps since then. Bit terness, a deep bitterness, plagued his heart. He said if only he were younger, he would go and join the Fatah, the Arab commando or ganization. “ Abu Ahmad,” I said, “ I know you have no country, and there is JULY/AUGUST, 1969
no peace, but Nebi ’Isa [Jesus Christ] teaches us that as the world comes closer to the end time, there will be more and more wars. Peace will be on the lips of everyone, but there will be no peace. You can have peace your self, but in the world there will be no peace. Nebi’Isa said:‘Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you, not as the world gives.’ ” “That is a different peace,” he said, “what I want is peace now, here. I want my home back, my country back, a place to live and to work like a human being. I don’t want to be a refugee the rest o f my life.” Abu Ahmad is a Muslim, a son of Ishmael, an embittered foe of the sons of Isaac. There are many Abu Ahmads today in these lands bordering the state of Israel; hatred and revenge feed on their lives like a cancerous growth. Their eyes are blinded to the truth of God; they see in Jesus Christ only a prophet, and He of less import than Muhammad. One would give up in despair of reaching these people with the Gospel of Christ if it were but mere human power and wisdom that could be brought to bear for
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