A Faithful Friend

One Friday afternoon, twenty years ago, we were all gathered in the cour. It was a special day. The day of "Aid El Kebir". The Imam who was leading prayers talked at length about Abraham’s sacrifice. I drank in his every word, identifying myself with Abraham’s son, being offered up as a sacrifice. I was thinking about my loosing life in drug and alchool and all desperate think that man can do. So, this day as evry year, I was sitting and listening to the imam prech.
Then, something incredible happened; the sky disappeared from over my head, a bright light filled the heavens and a ray came down and pierced my heart. It is difficult for me to explain what really happened, but all of a sudden I understood deep inside how I had distorted this loving father’s face. His love overwhelmed me and I was unable to stand upright. In floods of tears I kept saying to the men holding me up, “God loves us; He didn’t want His friend Abraham’s son to die. He loves his friends and He, as GOD, wanted all the best for them, He doesn’t want to hurt them. GOD is GOD speaking to us through human langage, whith affection and emotions.
The men holding me thought I had sunstroke!

A few months later, whilst abroad, I happened to come across a book lying on the ground that completely changed my life. This book talked about a man who said we should follow him and he would show us the Father. This was just what I had been looking for since my last experience. And he spoke the truth; through him I came to know GOD as the Father. And this is exactly what happened..

That was 20 years ago. I have had my ups and downs since and I am far from being perfect, but these words still ring out in my heart, “I will guide you and teach you. I will show you the way you should go, for my eyes are upon you.” Psalm 32v8. Wonderful, isn’t it, my friend?! God’s eyes are upon me. When I think that beforehand, this would have made me tremble with fear *. Today, I can say, Even though hard times come, He never changes… He is wonderful!

I hope I haven’t been too long-winded. I have been brief and left out a lot of experiences, each one more amazing than the other. This is just a part of my testimony. Thank you for reading.
Karim