In a girls' Bible school in Yokohama, O Mild San, a small Japanese girl, had won the award offered by the school for diligent study and successful Bible work. It was a beautiful copy of the Book of books.
O Miki San had come from Shinshin. A Japanese evangelist had started a Sunday school there and this little girl became a deeply interested pupil. She always waited for him at the gate of the tiny Japanese house where the Sunday school was held. Ere long she brought a companion whom she had introduced to come to 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 a testimony to her faith in Him. Now her friends rejoiced with her as she received the copy of the Bible bearing her name in gold letters on the cover. They 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 took place in her dormitory. O Mild San had read a few verses from her precious Bible and marked them as her favorites. Then she placed the Book 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 no one; but her Bible was gone! It was apparent that a robber had been in the building.
“But why should he steal a Bible and what could he want with it?" The question came again and again to poor O Miki San. Her conclusion was that "he wanted money, but had obtained something more precious than gold." 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. He often read to and prayed with the inmates. In one of the prisons he came across a man condemned to die. He 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 he quoted to him John 3:1616For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16): "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." 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 to receive the Savior. On the last evening after bidding him "Good night," a sound arrested his attention. Turning, he saw the man with head bowed to the floor, and heard sobs which, now uncontrolled, 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. I do 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 a girl in Yokohama. I stole her treasure—her Bible. Yet it was her Bible which first taught me the meaning of sin. The verses which she had marked seemed written for me. I would waken at times repeating them. 'Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.' 1 Tim. 1:1515This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. (1 Timothy 1:15). `Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white snow.' Isa. 1:1818Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. (Isaiah 1:18). 'Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.' Rev. 22:1717And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. (Revelation 22:17).
“At first I was enraged and determined to destroy the book, but could not. Here it is. Her name is on it. If the girl is living, will you give her back her Book? 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.”
“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. 4:1212For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged 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. (Hebrews 4:12).