By Peter Kennedy
“And Elisha prayed, "O LORD, open his eyes so he may see." Then the LORD opened the servant's eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.” – 2 Kings 6:17
Nabeel Qureshi was born in San Diego, California to Pakistani parents who immigrated to the United States. With his father in the U.S. Navy, he moved many times as a youth before settling in Virginia. In 2001 he attended Old Dominion University and served as the president of the Pre-Medical Honor Society. Nabeel also studied Islamic apologetics and engaged Christians in religious discussions. After one such discussion with a Christian at Old Dominion University, David Wood, the two became friends and began a years-long debate on the historical claims of Christianity and Islam.
After one debate, Nabeel prayed to God for a sign:
“I was at the foot of a hotel bed, and I prayed, ‘God, I don’t know. My eternal life is on the line. I ask you to tell me what the truth is. Provide me with a vision. Provide me a dream, anything.’”
“That night, as soon as I prayed that, everything went dark, and there before my eyes were hundreds, maybe thousands of crosses. As soon as they had come they had gone. I knew what had happened – I had received a vision. But I didn’t want to believe it! So I looked up to God and I said, “God, that doesn’t count! That could be my eyes playing tricks on me.” So I said to God, “Forget I asked for a vision. How about you provide me a dream?” That night Nabeel had a dream of Christ and when he awoke he gave his life to Christ.
There is a reality that is beyond our eyes that only faith can reveal. Today in prayer, praise Jesus that He is Lord of all the seen and the unseen.
“My knowledge of that life is small, The eye of faith is dim, But ‘tis enough that Christ knows all, And I shall be with him.” – Richard Baxter
God’s Word: “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” – Colossians 3:2