Being a Christian can be frustrating at times because it is so easy to forget about that time in our own lives when we too were blinded to the truth (Ephesians 5:8). As Paul reminds us about unbelievers in 2 Corinthians 4:4 “In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.” You want to shout from the rooftops: “Don’t you people get it?” When in reality, they can’t get it, because they are both blinded by Satan and willingly ignorant (2 Peter 3:5). The best you can do is present them the Gospel and pray for their souls. The rest is between them and God.
Within this framework I always find it amazing when a non-Christian is able to see a sliver of truth (John 17:17) in this world. Tokyo Governor, Shintaro Ishihara, has apparently told the press that he believes the magnitude 9.0 earthquake that hit Japan on Friday was a form of divine punishment:
“The identity of the Japanese people is selfishness. The Japanese people must take advantage of this tsunami as means of washing away their selfish greed. I really do think this is divine punishment.”
Shintaro, how right you are! Instead of blaspheming God as most people would do (Revelation 16:9), you rightly identified the cause of your strife. Now please, lead your constituents on their knees before our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to repent and believe on Him for Salvation. As in the days of Ninevah: Jonah 3:8, “But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily unto God: yea, let them turn every one from his evil way, and from the violence that is in their hands.”
While Shintaro correctly recognizes that this tsunami has divine implications, he is sadly ignorant of whom his Lord and Creator is: Acts 17:23, “For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.” Shintaro, please, for the sake of your soul, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ so you will not be damned (Mark 16:16). Contrary to popular opinion, you and your unbelieving countrymen have no excuse: Romans 1:20 “For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:”
Christians, before you jump on the international aid wagon (rife with fraud, waste, and abuse), take a moment to pray and study your Bibles (2 Timothy 2:15). Japan (or Africa for that matter) doesn’t need your money, aid, clothing, food, or stuff nearly as much as your prayers and your active witness: Luke 10:2, “Therefore said he unto them, ‘The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.’”
If you aren’t a prayer warrior, then figure out how to get out on the street and evangelize the masses. Get over there and be a tourist, teach English, practice medicine, gain international employment, or even volunteer as a missionary. If you can’t put your boots on the ground, find a way to do something proactive: mail tracts, send Bibles, or support a missionary in Japan. Time is of the essence for us to reach lost souls (2 Peter 3:10). According to news reports, there are at least 2,500 Japanese dead and their numbers in Hell are growing by the day, Matthew 7:13 “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:”
Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ gave us our marching orders: Mark 16:15 “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” It is up to you to obey (Galatians 3:1) and preach the good news. For those of us with thick skulls who need everything repeated, Paul elaborated on these orders and clarified them: Romans 10:13 “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!”
American Christians: the Chinese local churches plan on spreading the Gospel to Japan (and the rest of the 10/40 window), will you?