Face to Face with Jesus - A Former Muslim's Extraordinary Journey to Heaven and Encounter with The God of Love

A story for the ages is Samaa Habib’s conversion experience and her trials in Christ.  She was a young Muslim girl when she converted to Christ after realizing that Allah was not answering her prayers.  When being nearly crushed during civil war in a mob that broke out while she was waiting in a bread line, she “cried out in desperation to the God of Abram, Isaac, and Jacob…”  She relates her gradual journey to the God of Love through being invited to a Ta kwon do class that was being held by missionaries in the gym of the local school.  At first glance, this is just too good to be true.  After reading her story I know that my hesitation is because I am not used to seeing God work in an intense and miraculous way.  I see the provision of God and His hand in the situations she encounters that only God can work in.  I have no doubt that her life experience has happened the way she relates it to us.  Samaa tells her story in somewhat basic conversational sentences which reflect her grasp of English as a second language, bringing a realistic feel to this book.  Her knowledge of the Scriptures is evident and her application of God’s Word to situations she encounters is enlightened.  Her trials and triumphs are real and bring to my mind the verse in 2 Cor. 2:14, “Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.” (NKJV)  There are a few loose ends left in the narrative and she sometimes stretches a Bible verse a little beyond context.  Her death experience which took her to be “Face to Face with Jesus” is a reach for me.  However, I do know that if God wants her to speak with Christ, face to face, and return to earth to tell of it, He will make that happen.  I see nothing in the scriptures to tell me that anyone in present day, with the Word made perfect, will go to heaven and then return to tell about it.  The only thing for you to do is read her story and draw your own conclusion.  John 16:12-13 gives insight to this.  His ways are not our ways.  I give this four stars.

I received a free copy of this book from Chosen, a division of Baker Publishing Group, in exchange for my honest review.  This review is my opinion.

Thanks so much for being here, happy reading!

Jeri