SEVERAL YEARS ago the chaplain of the prison in Kushiro, Jan, noticed that one of the prisoners had a New Testament, and although he could not read, he carried it always with him. This surprised Mr. Hara, the chaplain, and he asked the prisoner how he happened to have the book. The man replied, “I care a great deal about it. I am a sinner, but this book will keep me from sinning.”
He went on to tell how he had spent the greater part of his life in doing evil. For one thing, he was a burglar.
One day he arranged with a companion to rob the missionary school in Yokohama. They were to enter the girls’ dormitory and take all the clothes and money they could find.
On the first dark night they entered the building by a kitchen window and went upstairs. As they went, Maki this was his name — heard voices.
“What is that?” he quietly asked his companion, thinking they had been discovered.
“It is somebody praying,” he laughingly replied. “They are afraid, and are asking God to protect them.”
Soon they saw one of the girls on her knees, praying. In their boldness they grasped her coat but the young girl looked up and calmly said, “Please don’t steal my coat; my mother made it and sent it to me. Please take this book instead and read it.”
She offered them a small book but they threw it aside. Then in fear of being caught they quickly left and went their ways.
For three days Maki stayed indoors. At last he ventured out to visit his partner in his home. Arriving there he was surprised by a policeman who was waiting to arrest him. His friend was already in jail and the police were watching for Maki.
The next day he was brought bore the chief of police in the presence of some of the girls from the missionary school.
“Do you recognize this?” he was asked as they showed him the little book he had scorned the night of the robbery. “These girls heard of your arrest and they have brought the book to offer it to you again. You are guilty of burglary and must go to prison. But this book will lead you to repentance before God. These girls are Christians and they treat their enemies with kindness.”
Maki accepted the book and thanked the girls. But he knew nothing of Jesus. He did not know that He teaches us to do good to everyone, to give rather than to steal. The convicted thief went to prison, taking the New Testament with him.
When Mr. Hara had heard Maki’s story, he told him about the Saviour’s love for sinners. Maki knew he was a lost sinner and that he must stand before a holy God to be judged. But now he knew that that same God had provided a way of salvation. Maki accepted God’s offer and was saved. With Mr. Hara’s help he learned to read his Testament by himself.
ML-03/03/1963