The more we know of the Bible, the more we are compelled to admit that "there is none like it." The stories of its victories over the lives of individuals "lost in sorrow, sunk in sin," fill us with assurance that there is a power behind that Book with which nothing else can compare.
In a girl's Bible school in Yokohama, O Mild San, a small Japanese girl, was receiving the congratulations of her companions on having won the reward offered by the school for diligent study and Bible work. She had come from Shinshin. A Japanese evangelist had started a children's meeting there, and this little girl, a deeply interested pupil, always waited for him at the gate of the tiny Japanese house where the meetings were held, with another companion whom she had induced to come and listen to the story of the "beautiful. Jesus." "Not `Yasu,' as bad people called Him, but `Yesu,' who loved children and took them in His arms." Thus she was, though unconsciously, doing "Bible work." She had given her heart unreservedly to Christ, and her consistent life was the admiration of all who now rejoiced with her as she received the copy of the Bible bearing her name in gold letters on the cover, and knew her desire that God would "use me and my blessed Book for leading others to know the Savior.”
A few hours later, a very different scene was being enacted in her dormitory. O Miki San had read a few verses from her precious Bible, and marked them as her favorites.
Then she placed it beneath her pillow, and was soon sleeping, peacefully. In the night she was awakened by a hand drawing something from under her head. She sprang up, and ran for a light. A hasty search revealed that her Bible was gone. It was apparent that a robber had been in the building. "But what could he want with a Bible?" was the question that came again and again to poor O Miki San. Her conclusion was that "he wanted money, but had gotten something more precious than gold," and she lifted her heart to God that He would bless the stolen treasure to the salvation of the thief.
Several years passed. In Kolu a Christian Japanese gave his life to prison rescue work, reading to and praying with the inmates. In one of the prisons he found a man who interested him greatly by his intelligence in regard to Bible truths. In explaining to him the way of salvation, he felt sure it was not new to him.
One day, as he quoted John 3:16, the man's eyes filled with tears, and he showed great agitation. Only two days remained before the execution of his death sentence, and the missionary pleaded earnestly with him. At last, on the last evening, as he told him "good night," a sound arrested his attention. Turning, he saw the man with head bowed to the floor, and heard sobs, now uncontrolled, which seemed to rend his very soul.
Lifting his head, the poor prisoner said, "You. have come to me as the, angel did to Peter to open the door of my prison-my soul's prison—and I will respond to your earnest knocking or is it God that is knocking through you? Of all the sins of my life, none has so pierced my heart these last days as the one done to an innocent girl in Yokohama, and yet it was her Bible, which I took from her pillow, which first taught me the meaning of sin. The verses which she had marked seemed written for me. I would wake up sometimes repeating them. 'Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.' Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.' Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.' I would have destroyed the book, but could not. Her name is in it—if the girl is still living, give her back her book and tell her that the words, which from mere curiosity I read, have through God's blessing and your teaching saved my soul. My life is lost, but my soul is God's, and shall be amongst her jewels in His Kingdom.”
"The Word of God is quick, and powerful, and. sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and-marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." Heb. 4:12.