Author and pastor John MacArthur recalls this story:

I was flying down to El Paso to do a men's conference. I was working on some thoughts and had my Bible open. I was sitting next to an Arab. He kept glancing over and looking at what I was doing.

Finally he said, "May I ask you a question? I am from Iran, and I am new in America. I see you have a Bible. I don't understand American religion. What is the difference between a Catholic, a Protestant, and a Baptist?"

I gave him a little explanation. Then I said, "Could I ask you a question? Do Muslims have sins?" (Of course I know they do; I just wanted to hear him say it).

He said, "Oh we have so many sins; I don't even know all the sins."

"Really?" I asked, "Can I ask you another question? Do you do those sins?"

"All the time I do those sins," he said. "In fact, I will be honest with you. I am going to El Paso to do some sins."

"Do you mind if I ask what sins you're going to do in El Paso?"

He said, "Well, I was immigrating"—El Paso is a big immigration location—"and I met this girl; I am going to El Paso to do some sins with her."

I said, "How does God, as you understand God, feel about your sins?"

"It's very bad," he said. "It's very bad."

"How bad is it?" I inquired.

He said, "I could go to hell."

I said, "You don't want to go there, do you?"

"No!" he exclaimed.

"Then why do you keep doing these sins?" I prodded.

"I can't help it," he confessed.

I asked, "Well, is there any hope for you?"

He said, "I hope God will forgive me."

I said, "Why are you so special that he should do that? Why should he forgive you?"

"I don't know, I just hope," he responded.

I said, "Well, I know him personally, and he won't."

That blew his mind. He said, "You know God personally! What do you mean you know that God personally?"

I said, "I do know him personally, and I can tell you he will not forgive your sin. He can't look on iniquity; he's angry with the wicked every day, and he's going to cast them into eternal hell. But would you like to hear some good news about your sin?"

"Yes, I would," he answered.

So I explained the gospel to him. I sent him material afterward and directed him toward a church. I can only pray he's followed through.