Death to Israel …
Every morning before class, Daryoosh, an Iranian Muslim, would chant, “Death to Israel.” In Iran, where he grew up, there’s a very strange hatred of Israel and the Jewish people. He believed the lies, but eventually light and the following verse would come into his heart. “Many nations shall be joined to the LORD in that day and shall be my people.” Zechariah 2:11
Daryoosh went for military service and then extra training. During that time, he became addicted to drugs and stopped all religious activities. After his military service, he found a very good job in business, and he received good money. He decided to leave Iran just for a better life. His illegal journey started by flying to Istanbul, Turkey and then on to Bosnia. It was very risky and dangerous.
Deception begins
When he arrived in England, he applied for asylum. Since he had left Iran just for a better life, he decided to tell a lie on the government application. On the form, he stated it was because he was a persecuted Christian and that life was dangerous for him in Iran. But, he thought what if someone asks him about Christianity. What would he have to tell them? Daryoosh decided to go to church just to get information about Christianity. In church, he heard all the basic things about Christianity – about the Messiah, repentance, and the cross. He heard how the Messiah rose again after 3 days, is alive, and can change peoples’ lives. His brain was full of information, but his heart was still dark.
Then he received a letter from the government, for an interview. Not knowing what to say or not say, he asked his pastor to go with him. However, when his pastor came, he said, “Daryoosh, you’re not a Christian! It’s all lies! Jesus asks you to stand on truth and truth will set you free.” Daryoosh became very angry and said, “No, I can’t! They’ll deport me back to Iran!”
Saved and set free
Then he went to his room, locked the door, and bowed down. He cried and shouted and said, “If there is any God, you show yourself to me! I can’t continue anymore!” In that very moment, God came and revealed Himself. Daryoosh was completely healed from drug addition, and he had given his heart to God.
God had touched his heart and given him strength and power. There was a power working inside his heart. Daryoosh had tried several times before to give up the drugs, but couldn’t. He asked Jesus to help him start a new life and He did! And Jesus said to him, “Daryoosh – I love you as you are with dirty things because I died on the cross for you.”
The miracle
Daryoosh went for his interview in London and the officer said, “We have just a couple of questions.” Daryoosh said to him, “I’m so sorry about the application form. I wasn’t a Christian in Iran and life wasn’t dangerous for me. I came to this country just for a better life. But two days ago I gave my heart to Jesus! If you want to send me to Iran or anywhere, I am ready for that.” The officer looked at Daryoosh and said, “You told a lie?”
The application for asylum was refused. In court, the judge looked at him and said, “What did you do yesterday?” Because Daryoosh’s court date was on a Monday, he told the judge, “Yesterday I was leading the worship group.” And he said, “How did you do that?” He told the judge he was reading Psalm 96. The judge said, “What does Psalm 96 say?” And everyone in the court opened the Bible and just started reading Psalm 96 saying, “Sing a song to the LORD! Sing a new song to the LORD! Proclaim His salvation!” And there was a miracle. He said to me, “You are accepted to stay in England.”
For a long time, Daryoosh believed the lies about Israel and the Jewish people. He no longer chants “Death to Israel.” Once he was saved, he started to read the Bible from the beginning. Through this study, God gave Daryoosh a passion, a love for the Jewish people because the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Jesus the Messiah) saved his life. Jesus changed his life and he is now ONE FOR ISRAEL.
See other Israeli and Arab testimonies at https://oneforisrael.org
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