Echoes of Truth

After four years, I was able to see my old friend Kazu again. Here is a picture of us in a Japanese market, and yes, that is a chilled cucumber on a stick that we're eating like it's a popsicle.

Kazu had been a great encouragement to me when I was in Okayama, and had been extremely involved in our church. Though he had not expressed complete faith in Jesus yet, we had talked several times about when he would like to confess faith and be baptized. A lot has changed in four years, and he has since graduated, found a job, moved to a new area, gotten married, and is now expecting his first child. We enjoyed catching up over the past years and reminiscing about old times. I fear, however, that what seed the birds have not snatched up, the thorns, that is, the cares of the world, have crowded out.

Kazu took me to visit Ise-jingu, one of Japan's most famous shrines, dedicated to the Sun God, Amaterasu. This ancient shrine is surrounded by forest and rivers, with a breathtaking view of the mountains. As spacious as the grounds leading up to the shrine are, it is always crowded with people. When we finally made our way up to the altar, where there was a long line of people waiting to toss a few coins into the offering box and then offer up their prayers, I was surprised at what I saw. Most shinto shrines have an ornate offering box set in gold, with a huge, colorful altar behind it. However, at this most holy shrine, there was nothing but a white curtain. The shrine itself was only ever opened every couple of years, and the altar is completely hidden from view.

I have to admit that after three hours of driving followed by a long hike to the top of the hill, I was a little disappointed. However, during the three-hour drive back, the chance I had been praying for share the gospel with my friend one more time finally occurred to me. I was reminded of another curtain that was likewise put in place to separate the secular from the Most Holy. Separated as we are, all our best works, like the worthless coins tossed into the open mouth of an empty crate, bring us no closer to our object or the presence of the one who can truly hear our prayers and help us. So long as the curtain is in place, our prayers fall on deaf ears, and we remain outside with all that is unclean and utterly powerless to change our state. But one who belonged inside came outside to be with us. He made an offering, not of coins, which are of little value and are themselves tainted by the secular world, but of the most precious thing in the world--himself. And at the moment of his death, the curtain was torn from top to bottom.

"Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water" (Heb. 10:19-22).

Yet my words were heard with polite interest, and little more. Please pray that more and more in Japan would come in through the new and living way. Both in the US and in Japan, a shroud remains over the hearts of many, blocking out both law and gospel. How many here have everything they could want from the world, yet forfeit their souls in the bargain!