Memory Verse: “I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto Me; for I have redeemed thee.” Isaiah 44:2222I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee. (Isaiah 44:22)
When Dr. Wilson found that the train for Los Angeles was two hours late, he started walking up and down the street looking for a barber shop. At the same time he asked the Lord to guide and direct him. Entering a small shop two blocks away, he found the barber was a young Japanese man.
Seating himself in the chair, Mr. Wilson asked for a shave, and soon the barber had the warm lather on his face and covered with a hot towel.
“Do you know a Mr. Kamura, a well-known evangelist in Japan?” asked Mr. Wilson.
“Where is he from?”
“His home is in Kioto, but he preaches all over Japan.”
“Oh, I was born there. Is that the little man who builds big wooden meeting halls with sawdust on the ground?”
“Yes, that is the man.”
“I will never forget that little man. I went to one of his meetings and heard him preach. When he had finished, he came down from the platform, walked down the aisle, placed his hand on my shoulder and said, ‘Young man, how are you going to get rid of your sins?’ "
“Have you found out how?”
“No, I wish I could. When you came in, I was walking up and down the back of the shop saying those words over and over again and wishing someone would tell me how I could get rid of my sins. Can you tell me how?”
“Yes I can,” said Mr. Wilson, and getting his Bible, he read to him the story of the Saviour’s love. Acts 10:4343To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. (Acts 10:43) impressed his heart very much. “To Him give all the prophets witness, that through His name whosoever believeth in Him shall receive remission of sins.”
“Have you any sins?”
“Oh yes, lots of them.”
“Would you like to have them put away today?”
“If it could be so, I would get peace in my heart, for only trouble is there.”
“Well, Jesus came to blot out your sins for you. I will read it for you in Isaiah 44:2222I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee. (Isaiah 44:22): ‘I have blotted out as a thick cloud thy transgressions, and as a cloud thy sins: return unto Me; for I have redeemed thee.”
These passages deeply affected the young barber, but he did not have peace. He sat meditating deeply as Dr. Wilson explained the Scriptures to him and told him more about the Saviour of sinners who came to save him. He then turned to 1 John 1:77But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (1 John 1:7): “The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.”
“Do you not see that the Lord Jesus was dying for you? He suffered on the cross the punishment that you should have had.”
These and other Scriptures brought light to the troubled soul of the young barber. Then the peace of God came into his heart. He confessed and believed in the work of Christ at Calvary and exclaimed, “Jesus put my sins away. The Bible says so. I believe God sent Jesus to save me and I take Him. He is mine.”
“Did none of your customers ever tell you of the Saviour?”
“No, they do not talk about Jesus to me. No one seemed to care whether I was saved or not. I went to churches, but they did not tell me that Jesus blotted out my sins for me and that I could have Him as my Saviour. I am so glad that you have come with your Bible and showed me how to get rid of my sins. Now they are gone. Jesus has put them away and I believe in Him.”
ML-12/25/1977