In 2007, Masood decided to visit his brother, Reza, in prison one last time before his execution. But to Masood’s surprise, Reza didn’t need to be comforted.

At peace

“I thought that I would find him worried and upset, but he was very peaceful and greeted me with a smile and a face full of hope,” Masood said.

Reza then told Masood about a pastor he had met in prison named Amir, who had told him about Jesus Christ, despite it being illegal to lead others to Christ in Iran.

“Two days ago, I received new life and I am no longer afraid of death,” Reza told Masood. “I know that the Lord Jesus Christ has accepted me and that I am going to be with Him. So don’t worry about me.” Reza then urged Masood to put his faith in Jesus and seek forgiveness of his sins so that he, too, could find salvation through Christ.

“Then they took my brother and led him away to be executed. I saw that as my brother went, he was at peace and worshipping the Lord.”

After Reza’s execution, Masood followed his brother’s example and placed his faith in Christ. “Before all this, I was addicted to drugs and even sold drugs,” Masood said, “but Christ delivered me from all these bondages.”

Faithfully sharing the Gospel

When Reza heard the Gospel from pastor Amir, he sensed a spirit of love and peace that convicted him.

“My friend, what are you doing here?” Reza asked Amir. “How come a good person like you ended up here? I have committed murder and should be here, but what have you done?”

“I am in here just for you,” Amir replied, “so that you today can hear the Gospel and be saved and set free!”

Amir then shared the story of the lost sheep with Reza and the story of the thief on the cross who committed himself to Jesus in the last moments of his life.

Reza committed himself to Christ and received his new life that day. His behaviour, speech and even his appearance changed. Two days later, he was transferred to another prison, where he was executed the following day.

God multiplies

After hearing the story of his brother’s salvation, Masood began to share it along with his own testimony, and some of his Iranian Muslim friends then came to faith in Christ, too.

While Amir may never know about the new life he helped give Masood and his Muslim friends, in God’s perfect plan his faithful witness to one condemned murderer granted eternal freedom to many.

Source: Voice of the Martyrs