Zachary Once Upon a Murder, Part 2

Zachary was in prison, crying out to God with great sobs. All of a sudden, it was as if the cement blocks of his cell had been parted by an unseen hand, and the sun shone down on him, warm and bright and full. He felt something he never had before—joy.

Three days later, Zachary was moved to another prison. Gone were the men who beat him up. And the demon that had been harassing him in the night? It had gone too. God had answered his prayer.

He began to read the Bible. He signed up for as many Bible studies as he could and got his hands on as many Christian books as possible.

But one day, he found a book that changed everything. In the back of a book titled The Great Controversy was an offer to send away for a Bible study by a ministry called Amazing Facts. He sent in the offer and received the lessons. Then he sent away for more lessons, magazines, and books.

Zachary was in awe of the truths taught by Amazing Facts; they were taken straight from the Word of God. He also read Broken Chains, Pastor Doug’s book about Jesus’ encounter with the demoniac of Decapolis, and he began to practically apply the biblical knowledge to his own life. He read Hero of Hacksaw Ridge and used it to witness to his three brothers, who are all in the military.

Zachary’s brothers noticed a change in his life—in fact, his whole family saw that he had become a completely different person. God had given him a new heart and a new mind to love the things of His Word more than anything else. Today, Zachary, a murderer turned missionary, shares the truths of the Bible with his fellow inmates. He is now a co-laborer with Christ to help set others free. He is freer now in the confines of his prison cell than he had ever been when living out in the world.

God lead Zachary out of darkness and into the marvelous light of truth. “To serve in the kingdom of God is the greatest thing I’ve ever taken part in,” he says.

Reflect: What do you do when you are surrounded by darkness? How can you let the light of heaven into your life? God is ready to send truth into your mind and heart.

Key Bible Texts

I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness. (John 12:46 KJV)