Escape from Iran

A Personal Spiritual Revolution

 

     Samad and Shiraz had a good life in Iran. Samar was well paid at his job and his wife Shiraz was very sweet and a good mother to their son and daughter. They were the typical Iranian family. Their home was filled with lots of love, great food and a large extended family. They were proud of their Persian heritage. Samad and Shiraz were in love. Who could ask for anything more?  Yet, Samad and Shiraz were restless. They both had a large spiritual void in their lives. Islam was not satisfying them. How could this be? This was the faith of their family. This was the faith of their nation. Iran is 98% Muslim and as a family they had gone through the Islamic Revolution and welcomed it. Iran was going to get rid of the Shah and all of the secular western influences. The nation would become a strict Islamic state. Surely the glory days would return to the Persian people. The Ayatollah promised that the people of Iran would be a model for the rest of Islam to follow worldwide. The families would be more secure and the nation of Iran would soar to new heights as a worldwide spiritual giant for the glory of Allah. The Revolution would set the people free. The prophet Mohammad would be studied and followed by every Iranian and this Revolution would sweep the world with an Islamic revival.

 

     However, none of the promises were fulfilled. Within years a national depression set into Iran. Hopelessness was seen everywhere. Iran soared to the nation with the highest drug addiction percentage in the world. Jobs were scarce. College graduates had nothing to look forward to after completing school. At the same time the strict Islamic regime was enforcing the new standards through Sharia law. With intimidation, persecution, and even execution the state carried out the edicts of the Ayatollah with an iron fist. The people were dislodged from their normal lives and great fear gripped them. Freedom of thought and the expression of it exited the country. Books were banned unless they were government propaganda pieces. Women feared public places since the Secret Police were always present and watching to see if their hair was completely covered. If even an inch of hair was showing they could be taken in “for questioning” and then beaten. Men had to display support of the Ayatollah and his regime or their job might be lost. Next, isolation from the west occurred. 

 

     This was especially difficult since the average Iranian loves America and probably has a cousin living in Los Angeles or Detroit. Many Iranians jokingly referred to L.A. as “Tehran-geles” since a quarter million Iranians lived there. 2 million Iranians living in America watched as the freedoms that their families had once enjoyed evaporated. Young Iranian men could not return to their country to visit relatives or they would be immediately forced into the Iranian military. Visiting Iran twice I was shocked to hear many college students talk openly about committing suicide if they were not able to leave the country after graduation. To many, death seemed the only possible escape.

 

     Samad and Shiraz planned another way out. Samad applied for a work visa from the government. He had located a job in a secular Muslim country and miraculously it was granted. In reality, Samad and Shiraz knew deep in their hearts why they were leaving Iran. They were on a journey to find God. “We knew that we could never have a personal relationship with God in Iran. Our spiritual life consisted of rules, obligations, and threats if we didn’t fulfill them to the letter of the law.  We tried all of those things. We kept all the rules. Yet, a personal relationship with God was nowhere to be found in Islam. We gave up everything and went on a spiritual quest to find Him.” They would not be disappointed. When they arrived in Turkey, their hope turned to desperation as they could not locate a place to live or a job to support the family. At the same time, both of them came into contact with Christians that helped them with food and clothing.

 

     Samad and Shiraz felt their hearts warmed by the message of love and hope that radiated off of the pages of the Bible. This was new to them as the god of Islam was so harsh, judging, and distant. Samad and Shiraz both knew that they were on the right track but they had to know for sure. How could Jesus prove Himself once and for all to them? If He really loved them they needed something tangible. They needed proof. One day out need and desperation it came to them. Since they were out of money and had no place to live Samad cried out to Jesus. “Jesus, show us that you are real and that you love us! Today, I ask that you find a good paying job for me so I can feed my family. I must start working today. Also, we need a place to live. We have no money for a deposit. If you are God, let us sleep in our own apartment tonight…..Amen” Did God care for them? Would He come through?

 

     Within a few hours both requests were answered! A friend suggested that they look at an apartment in a different part of town and the friendly apartment manager said “Samad, you can move  in today. I  need to get this apartment filled, so I don’t even need a deposit! Will this work for you?” Samad was in shock! He could hardly get the word “YES!” out. God cared about them! He had answered one of the prayers. They were moving in, one of the neighbors stopped by to meet them. He then said: “Samad, I don’t suppose that you need a job do you? I am looking for someone and I’m really desperate. You could start today.”  Samad and Shiraz both stopped dead in their tracks. At that point they both had the same thought go through their minds. “How powerful this Jesus is!” This time Samad blurted out “YES! I need a job and I accept your offer! Thank you!”

 

     They accepted Jesus’ offer too. How could they not? They reached out to Jesus and He reached out to them. Later that day, Samad and Shiraz knelt together in their new home, repented of their sins  and committed their lives to Jesus. The children joined their mom and dad. “From that day on Jesus took over and we saw one miracle after another!” Perhaps the most amazing miracle was that Samad was asked to give his testimony of God’s faithfulness on a Christian Television program. The program was carried all over the Middle East. The program was live and Samad was nervous, but God spoke through him. Samad had no idea that his own mother was at the very moment in Iran flipping through the Television channels. Christian Television is forbidden in Iran, but it seems the government has not been able to figure a way to control the airwaves yet. To her amazement, she came across the Christian station and saw her son on the program. She was shocked! Anger rose up in her as she came to the horrible realization that her son that had been raised as an observant Muslim had now defected and left his faith. She felt hurt, betrayal, and more anger. As her emotions began to calm down she noticed that Samad was serene and had a joyful countenance. It was a joy she had never seen on his face. After sharing in detail  his encounter with Jesus Christ and the love that His Savior had extended to Samad and his family, Samad got on his knees and  prayed for God to reach the people of Iran. He then led the T.V. audience in the sinner’s prayer.

 

      Samad would find out later… that his mother…. was on her knees… and she too joined her son in prayer, weeping and rejoicing as he led her to faith in Jesus Christ.  Samad and Shiraz could not find a personal relationship with God in Iran. They left the country to go on their own spiritual search for their Heavenly Father. How gracious He was to allow them to find His outstretched arms waiting for them. How gracious He was to let them bring the message of freedom in Jesus Christ back to their beloved country of Iran.

 

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.”

                                    Jesus, in the Sermon on the mountainside….