PAUL was a terror. At school he I was a constant source of trouble and aggravation. His teachers knew that nothing but a change of heart would ever turn this lad from his willful, sinful ways. And if this change was to be, then God must do it — so they waited earnestly upon Him in prayer. It wasn’t long before Paul was brightly converted and he became a wholehearted follower of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Shortly after Paul’s conversion his Moslem father called the school and requested that Paul be allowed to accompany him to a Moslem feast. The teachers were not too happy about letting Paul go, but they couldn’t deny the father his request.
As they were walking along the road, the father turned to Paul and said, “I hear that you have turned Christian; is that true?”
“Yes,” said Paul, “that is true.”
Instantly, in anger, the father struck the lad a cruel blow, and there, right on the main road, began to unmercifully beat him. He then dragged him along the Moslem Mosque, where many Moslems were gathered.
When the father informed the Moslem priests that his son Paul had turned Christian, with angry countenances they looked upon the lad and said, “We will soon knock that out of him.”
They gathered around Paul and a priest demanded that he should repeat after him the first lines of their creed (in Arabic, of course).
“Repeat after me,” demanded the priest. “There is one God.” Paul repeated, “There is one God.”
The priest continued. “And His Name ONE.” Paul repeated, “And His Name One.”
The priest went on, “And Mohammed is His Prophet.” Paul stopped at that, paused, and then boldly said, “And Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”
The brave lad, then only twelve years of age, put his finger on the vital point of their faith — and ours. They exalt a sinful man — Mohammed — above our Lord Jesus Christ. What blasphemy! Paul could not and would not do that. His statement that Jesus Christ is the Son of God was a noble confession of faith.
The priests were infuriated they beat the lad and knocked him about. After he was somewhat recovered, they brought him out again.
Again the priest demanded, “Repeat after me, There is one God.” Paul again repeated, “There is one God.”
The priest went on, “And His Name One.” Paul repeated, “And His Name One.”
Then came the test — “And Mohammed is His Prophet.”
What a “test” for a boy of twelve in the midst of a mob of enraged religious fanatics who know no limits in devilish cruelty. But what a triumph as our hero cleared his throat and boldly said, “And Jesus Christ is my Saviour.”
Surely God stood with that little fellow as he confessed Christ, just as He will stand by all others who boldly do so.
The lad managed to get back to the school, and was lovingly cared for and encouraged to go on for Christ.
ML-02/18/1973