When I was in Malaysia I had the privilege of sitting down with these two men from Egypt. I quickly realized their heart for the Lord and their passion for others to know Him. What I didn’t realize was how much they were going to teach me.
Soon after we arrived in Penang I was warmly and humbly greeted by a very gentle man. His name was Richard (name changed for privacy). I knew from the beginning that I wanted to sit down and hear about his testimony of faith. He was the kind of person that you can sense has an amazing story to tell. A week or so had passed and I had still yet to sit down over a cup of coffee and hear his story. Every time I thought about it, I either had to be somewhere or I could not find him. I wasn’t sure if I was ever going to meet with him.
The following week the man that discipled and led him to Christ came to visit him all the way from Egypt. Maybe this was the opportunity. I could sit down and hear both of their stories. They were active believers who lived amongst a religion hostile to their beliefs. What have they learned? What have they overcame? What sacrifices have they made? How in the midst of all of this are they actively engaged in spreading the Gospel and inviting others to join? They had such fervor to the Spirit, and abandonment to this world. I had to see what they were made of!
Finally I saw them sitting on the stairs and asked to hear their stories. They readily agreed! So the next day when it was about time I asked which coffee shop they wanted to go to. Very politely, they turned that down and instead just wanted to meet in their room. I was caught a little off guard, as I usually like to have these conversations at coffee shops, but ya know, this could be cool.
As I enter into their room I see both men sitting cross legged, shoes off, in a quiet, reverent position. I see the respect in their demeanor. I decided that it is best for me to do likewise. The first thing they ask me is, “Did you bring your Bible? You are going to need it!” I came in expecting to hear a lighthearted sharing of how they came to know Jesus, but instead I got so much more. They shared their lives and faith. I saw that their faith was real. During those few minutes they showed me what genuine love looks like. They showed me what fear, awe, and reverence looked like. They showed me what it looked like to enter the presence of a Holy and Powerful God. A God that is worthy of so much more than we could ever offer Him. I needed to see this reality.
These men are constantly in fear of persecution and exile. The one man, Richard, and his wife left Egypt for that very reason. I saw that the words of Jesus were their very life and breath. They were willing at any moment to give up everything for their Savior. They clung to cross and all that it meant, for at times it was all they had.
I needed this perspective. It is a perspective that not many believers have in Bible-Belt America, where it isn’t a sacrifice to proclaim faith in Jesus. As we enter in to the presence of God, we can do so with boldness, yes, but also let’s come with humility and awe of who God is! He is so much more than just a friend, he is Lord!
