In Japan, "the land of the rising sun," the light of the glorious gospel of Christ was late in casting its beams into the darkened hearts of idol worshipers and priests. But now amid its thousands of Shinto and Buddhist temples there are many buildings devoted to the service of the one true God, and here and there may be found a simple gospel room, with an invitation to come and hear the "yesu-no-michi."
Even in Buddhist temples the gospel sound has been heard, and some of the priests have been brought to the Lord. There is an open mind among some, but even as in the early days, others are bitterly opposed to the spread of the gospel among the people.
Soon after Japan was opened to the gospel, a Buddhist priest named Yohoi was present at a great ecclesiastical function in Niigata. A discussion sprang up among the priests there assembled as to the most effectual methods of attacking and thus hindering the spread of this new "religion."
Yohoi contended that in order to oppose it successfully, each priest must study its doctrines personally and become acquainted with them. To encourage others in practicing what he advised, he went directly from the conference and purchased a New Testament for himself.
For months he studied it diligently, first delighting in its beauty as literature, and then, becoming convinced of its divine origin and true character, he saw his own sinfulness and need of Christ as his Savior.
A few days later Yohoi handed in his resignation to the chief priest, saying that he could no longer serve under him. Returning to his northern temple, he gave up his charge and set off for Tokyo, a distance of 180 miles, which he traveled on foot.
Arriving at the capital in deep distress of soul, he sought out a Christian missionary from Scotland who gave him further knowledge of God's holiness, His justice, and His righteous judgment of sin.
So intense was Yohoi's own conviction of sin, that this added knowledge only plunged him into deeper despair. Indeed he was sorely tempted by Satan, the great adversary of souls, to throw away the Book of God and return to idolatry.
But he continued to read the beautiful writings, and the entrance of that Word gave him light. Burdened with a sense of his guilt before God, he came across the words of the Lord Jesus in Matt. 11:2828Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28), "Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."
These wonderful words, full of grace and tenderness, filled his heart with a strange sense of peace. He read them over time after time, meditating upon each word and committing them to memory.
All through the silent hours of that night he lay awake; he thought of them; he weighed each word; he believed them. The "eyes of his heart" were enlightened and he experienced the "rest" of which the verse speaks. Yohoi was saved, and he knew it.
He did not hide his light, but confessed Jesus as his Savior and his Lord. He often delighted to tell of these words which were used by the Spirit of God in leading him to Jesus and in giving rest to his soul. But his greatest joy was to tell of the Savior Himself by whose precious blood he was cleansed from sin.
Now, you are no heathen. You have been born in a land where the gospel is preached. You have heard of Jesus, the Savior who is able and willing to cleanse you from every stain. Will you not, like Yohoi, "rest" in Him, receive Him and know the joys of sins forgiven?