Something incredible happened to a Muslim in 
Mecca, and he wanted to tell everyone about it. But when this man started talking about how he had seen Jesus Christ, he was thrown in jail, and then into a pool of rats. And that’s when his story became even more amazing.
This story comes from Reuben David, a former journalism professor who has three master’s degrees and now teaches and speaks in India and America for an organization called FaithSearch International based in Minnetonka, Minn.
Reuben is a Christian but was born and raised in India– which is home to Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism. He has first-hand knowledge of religions, cults, and today’s philosophies that leave people unsatisfied and searching for God.
This was the situation for the devoted Muslim, explained Reuben as he spoke to our church congregation. This man did all he was supposed to do as a Muslim – prayed five times a day, for example, and made the pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia as Muslims are supposed to do, since it is the holiest site in Islam. He had a thirst to really know God, Reuben said, but he was not satisfied.
The man’s thirst for God was finally quenched as he slept in his tent near Mecca, but not in the way he had expected. A blinding light shone in his tent and woke him. Then a man walked into the tent and held out his hand to the Muslim. It was Jesus, saying “I have seen your heart for God.” He told him he was Jesus Christ, and the man who had been a Muslim was now filled with incredible joy.
The joy was so full and complete that he could not keep it to himself. He started to tell other Muslims about Jesus Christ and what had happened to him.
“It didn’t take long before he was thrown into prison because of his beliefs,” Reuben said. And that wasn’t the worst thing – the guards became so tired of hearing this man talk about Jesus Christ that they rounded up several ferocious dogs. They planned to unleash the dogs in the man’s cell and watch them rip him apart.
But something strange happened. When the dogs entered the cell, they immediately calmed down. They became quiet and submissive, and began to lick the feet of the man who was talking about Jesus. They did not harm him.
The guards were shocked, but they did not give up. They took the man and threw him into a pool of rats. Again, the animals did not respond normally. The rats did not bite the Muslim turned Jesus follower.
The guards were now scared of this man and realized that something miraculous had happened. What had happened? This Muslim man WANTED to know God with all of his heart, and God had revealed himself.
“God goes where he is WANTED,” Rueben told our church.
How much do we want God? As much as this Muslim man?
“… LORD searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts. If you seek him, he will be found by you…” 1 Chronicles 28:9
“But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul.” Deuteronomy 4:29
