More Than Dreams

I love a good story, especially when it is true. One of the greatest benefits to life in this country is in hearing the incredible stories of men and women who are captured by the love of Jesus in supernatural ways. In America, we are sometimes lulled into believing that the Lord no longer performs miracles, that visions and dreams are extinct, and that the Bible is the ONLY way to hear from Christ today. But this is not at all the African experience. In the absence of a Christian witness or any written Scripture, so many of our friends have come to Christ through a dream-encounter. There is a video that is widely circulated about a faithful Muslim boy named Mohammed. He loved his father very much and longed to please both his father and God. He spent a decadeha in Quranic school, learning to read and write in Arabic. Returning to his village after years of education, Mohammed was searching for a way to travel to Saudi Arabia for deeper schooling. He began to have tormenting dreams of dark beings struggling to kill him. His father took him to a traditional healer who prepared a concoction, sure to rid Moha of his nightmares. However, the dreams only increased in intensity. In them, he saw a figure in brilliant white clothes coming to his aide in the battle between he and the dark forces. This vibrant Creature would escort him home to safety, and always say, "I love you, my son." After seven consecutive nights of vivid dreaming, the Brilliant Figure finally revealed his true identity to Mohammed. Upon awakening, Moha knew that he needed to visit a Christian in a neighboring village. The villager introduced Moha to a pastor who explained that Jesus was indeed the Messenger in the dream, the One who loved him enough to protect him from the evil one. Moha gave his life to Christ, knowing that his father would disapprove.
Indeed, over the next few months, Moha lost all respect among his people. By his father's command, the men in Moha's family attempted to kill him. When offered a bowl of poison to drink, Moha lifted the calabash to heaven and prayed, "Jesus, it is for your sake that I drink this poison!" His family waited for the mixture to claim his life, but Moha only slept soundly and woke to a surprised crowd of onlookers. He was later shot with poisonous arrows and imprisoned for six months, but he never lost his faith.
This story is representative of so many of the Fulani who we know that have come to faith in Christ. Many times, they seek after a Christian for an interpretation of the dreams that they have had. Jesus has a way of revealing Himself, causing the rocks and the trees to cry out when no one else is available!