Early morning in downtown Chicago. I stepped into a cab almost immediately noticing Moody Radio was playing on the car speakers.
My driver was from the Ivory Coast and so I told him about my previous trips to West Africa, tossing in a few French phrases as best I could. Then I did the obvious and asked him about the station he was listening to.
“It’s from the Moody Bible” he said.
“That’s great,” I replied, and informed him that I worked at Moody—more specifically for Moody Radio—and that we were headed for the campus.
“Small world,” he said, and then added, “So you must be very careful.” I was intrigued with his comment and followed up with a question.
“So, you listen to the station that talks about Jesus. But do you know the Jesus they are talking about?
“Actually, I am Muslim,” he quickly and politely pointed out. “But I listen to the station every day to the morning show, then turn it off.” He grew slightly pensive. “Sometimes I think the Muslim God and Christian God are the same.”
I was gentle, but bold, “I have heard this same thing as I’ve talked with other people of the Muslim faith. But God had a Son named Jesus who claimed to be the Savior of the world.”
“Yes,” he acknowledged politely, and then added, “My Muslim friends all the time ask me ‘Why do you have that station on? Why?’ I tell them, ‘It is peaceful. It gives me peace.’”
A pity that the ride was coming to an end. I said to him, “Jesus said ‘Peace I give unto you. My peace—not the peace of the world.’” He responded with some other nice comments about the station.
As we turned the corner onto Chicago and LaSalle, I drew in a breath and reached back for my years of French language and said in his mother tongue, “Me, I believe Jesus is the King of kings.” The cab now at the curb, I reached to shake his hand and encouraged him to keep listening to Moody Radio. “God wants you in the Kingdom of heaven and this station can help you learn how to get there.”
You really never know who’s listening to you…or watching your life…or observing your testimony.
Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect. –1 Peter 3:15