So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ. – Romans 10:17 NLT
In his book, “Unforgettable Men In Unforgettable Times”, author Robert Boardman recounts the true story of a Japanese soldier named Shoichi Yokoi. He was one of the few soldiers who survived the U.S. Marine invasion of Guam in 1944. He remained in Guam for an extra 28 years after the war, never hearing the good news that World War II had actually finished.
Shoichi became a master at living off the land. He quickly learned to adapt to his surroundings by eating wild edibles, toads, and mice. He learned to weave plant fibers together to replace his army uniform which completely wore out in 1950. He also learned which plants could safely be used for medicinal purposes. This guy learned how to fully embrace his environment.
Numerous times he was nearly discovered by the people of Guam. On January 24, 1972, he was finally found. After 28 years, he heard the good news that the war was over, and he was free to return home.
I think there are a lot of people living like Shoichi. They have never heard the good news of Jesus that can set them free and give them an eternal home. Many are attempting to survive in this world without ever hearing the good news of the Gospel. They are trying to survive alone on what feels like an island. But the truth is, no one can survive by themselves on an island. We were made for more.
Recently, my home church adopted a mission of reaching one person at a time. Our pastor has challenged all of us to reach just one person with the good news of the Gospel and to begin to pray for that one person to come to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Have you ever considered what would happen if every member of your church reached just one person with the good news of Jesus Christ, His death, and resurrection?
Can you imagine the difference it would have made in Shoichi’s life if just one person could have reached him with the good news that the war was over and he was free? He could have been spared decades of striving and isolation.
Romans 10:14 reminds us, “But how can they call on Him to save them unless they believe in Him? And how can they believe in Him if they have never heard about Him? And how can they hear about Him unless someone tells them?”
Friends, we can’t save the whole world, but we can make a world of difference for one person. Let’s find that one person we already know who needs to hear the good news, and one by one, let’s watch the Kingdom of God grow.
Dig Deeper
1. Who is one person you know who needs to hear the good news of the Gospel?
2. What steps can you take this week to share the love of Jesus with them?
