Testimony of REV. SAM NASSER
My religious background was Muslim. When I was eight years old, my grandmother taught me to pray three times a day (which is called Namaz, bowing down17 times a day). If I had difficulty in school or at home, I would communicate with my God by gazing at the moon for many hours. I thought God was in the moon.
I prayed Namaz three times a day and fasted for one month each year. Eventually it became a habit for me. When I was praying, I expected to hear the voice of God and be able to see Him. I knew I was a sinner. When I committed sin, I did not like myself. Nevertheless, I loved God from the bottom of my heart.
When I was 19 years old, I went to the United States to study for a Civil Engineering Degree. I continued to pray three times each day and fasted one month a year, just to be close to God.
One day, my classmate invited me to church where her father was the pastor. During the service, I heard that Jesus Christ was the Son of God. I thought this was blasphemy. I left the church immediately and never returned. After five years, I received my Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering and then went back to Iran. I continually prayed to God and asked Him to reveal himself to me. I was desperate to feel His presence and wanted to know about His plan for all human beings. I remember asking myself the following questions . . .
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1. “Who is God?”
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2. “Why do I need to please God by bowing down 17 times a day?”
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3. “Why do humans have to die?”
One time when I was fasting, I asked God, “Have you been hungry before? Is this the reason why you want me to fast?”
I also said to Him, “Instead of making you happy by bowing down
17 times a day, why can’t I glorify you by praying deeply from the bottom of my heart?”
All these thoughts made me quit praying and fasting.
I went to the church. I observed a congregation of people facing the cross and praying. I was standing in the back row. Unexpectedly, God spoke to my heart and answered my three questions. He asked me . . .
1. “Are you looking for me?” – - – “I AM HERE!”
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2. “Are you looking for the right way?” – - – “I AM THE RIGHT WAY!”
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3. “Are you looking for the right person?” – - – “THESE ARE THERIGHT PEOPLE!”
God answered my three questions in less than one minute. My forehead started to sweat, my feet were numb and my body became cold. I sat down immediately. I asked myself, “Is this building more holy than our holy temple, called Emam Reza, in Iran? I don’t see the cross.” I answered my own question. “This is Christ’s House”.
I then asked, “Is Christ more important than the prophet Mohammed?” My Lord responded, “What you are thinking and feeling right now is true. You did not know Jesus before and you have never read the Bible. Who spoke to you about Jesus?” I responded, “Jesus was speaking to my heart all these years.” All these questions, that were bombarding my mind, were answered at the same time by the Lord. I was rejoicing and crying at the same time. I opened my heart and accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as my personal Saviour. Before I left the church, someone gave me a Farsi Bible.
When I got home, I opened the Bible. The page I opened to was1 Corinthians chapter 13. I read the entire chapter and had the answers to the questions I was asking for so many years. I understood some very important characteristics of the Lord from 1 Corinthians 13. I took the paper and held it close to my heart. I was rejoicing that finally, after 44 years, I had found my answers and most importantly, my God. You might ask me why I treasure the Bible in my heart.
Please read 1 Corinthians 13:1-8.
1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become a sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. 4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 Does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked. Thinks no evil; 6Does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 Bears all things, believes all things. Hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never fails.
One day my mother invited me for lunch. She told me to pray Namaz before I ate. I told her that instead of serving God with my actions, I wanted to truly love Him with all my heart. My mother asked, “Who has brainwashed you!” I was so angry with her. I said, “People who travel to Mecca, which is a holy place, are hypocrites. Their actions are not holy. They do not want to serve God.” I didn’t want to be like those people. I wanted to pray to God with a sincere heart.
I still practiced Namaz out of respect for my mother. However, there was a deep emptiness in my heart that I could not fill. I tried to help poor people and even attempted to solve their personal problems, but I couldn’t get rid of the heaviness in my heart.
Eventually, I secured employment as an appraiser and inspector of a high rise building. In these positions, my life was at risk as I was forced to commit financial fraud. My superiors asked me to sign illegal contracts. My conscience would not allow me to obey their illegal orders. Besides, I wanted to serve God’s people. My family and I were persecuted for four years because of my honesty. They tried to kidnap my 12 year old son.
My second career as a judicial arbitrator in the civil engineering field, allowed me to inspect the damage between two parties and then report my decision to the judge. If the judge did not agree with my decision, I would be forced to change my report. When I disagreed with their way of doing things, they reminded me, that if I did not follow the rules, they would take away any future job prospects. It was very difficult to work in a dishonest system.
When I came home from work, my wife asked me why I was so angry. I told her the story. I can’t believe my children are growing up in this chaotic society. My wife told me that if I wanted to make money, I would have to obey the rules. My heart ached as I retreated to my room with a broken heart that was full of sorrow and hopelessness. Due to this injustice that I was experiencing in my life, I wished I had never been born.
When I was 40 years old, I wept and asked God three questions . . .
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1. “God, show yourself to me.”
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2. “God, show me the right way to reach you.”
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3. “God, show me one right person who can guide me to you.”
I began to negotiate with God. I told Him, if he didn’t answer my three questions, I would not follow him anymore.
Four years later, with God’s hand on my family, we escaped from Iran and came to Canada as refugees. For seven days after we arrived, we looked for a place to stay. It was difficult to find a house for our large family of six people. Someone guided me to a church. She said they would be able to help us find lodging for our family.
In conclusion, I was searching my whole life for the truth and found it. The Bible says in John 8:32, “And you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.”
I read the Bible every day. After one month from the time I accepted Christ as my personal Savior, the Bible answered my three questions. Every time I open the Bible, I am blessed by God’s words. He revealed himself to me by referring me to John 14:9. Phillip said to Jesus, “Lord, show us the Father.” Jesus answered, “He who has seen me has seen the Father’.
My second question was, “God, show me the true way.” He answered that through John 14:6.
Jesus said, “I am the way the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
Finally, God gave me the answer to my last question. He showed me that members of this church are the Body of Christ. John 14:20 says,“I am in my Father and you are in me and I am in you.”
Finally, I realized, God had answered all my questions through John 14.
God Is Love! God Bless You!