O NE OPTHE most fascinating cities in the Orient is busy and bus tling Tokyo. I have never seen such activity with tremendous crowds of people. In the area where I stayed there was always a great deal of traffic. Their pedestrian crossings were most interesting. There was a safety zone marked out and on each side of the. street there was a post with a leather basket fastened to it. In the container were some yellow flags. If you wanted to cross the street, you were supposed to pick out a yellow flag, and hold it high for all the oncoming traffic to observe. Reaching the other side safely, you were to put your flag into the con tainer for the next person to use. The remarkable thing about it all was that during the time I was there I only saw one person using a flag. Most people did what the British are famous for, and that is crossing any where they wanted. Strange, isn’t it, when there is a safe way provided, people prefer to risk their lives? Another thing that was interest ing to me was the fact that the streets had absolutely no names. The area was completely built up but numbers on the houses and names for the streets were missing. How would a mailman find the right house with such a situation in existence? Talk about confusion! To the Japa nese there is not the same confusion as for aliens. A missionary friend told me, “Sometimes we set off to find a certain place, and get hopelessly mixed up. So, we have to give it up and come home!” I understand that only recently they’re adding names and numbers. That will be a real boon! So here were yellow flags nobody used and no names that people could 16
use. It seemed a strange paradox to me. Instead of using the safety flags, even I darted across the street, pre ferring rather to make a run for it. Thinking of those flags, I recalled the words from John 14:6 where Jesus declares, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man cometh unto the F a t h e r but by me.” Throughout the Orient, as well as every other part of the world, I have encountered those who are trying to find their own way to God. In Japan, there’s a high mortality rate among pedestrians. People lose their lives following their own way. All they had to do was to take a flag and hold it high. Jesus says, “I am the way.” Take His cross and hold it high. Has your way been to follow your church or denomination? The perfect way has already been provided. That way is Jesus Christ. Are you using Him? How amazing to find no street names or house numbers! The only way I could remember was by expe rience. I recalled that it isn’t names and numbers which bring me to God. The real test comes in knowing the way. I have to learn to walk with Him by faith. I need to get my hand in the hand of the Saviour and rec ognize His presence. When you come to the cross by faith, you receive Jesus Christ as your personal Sav iour. Some of you may be older peo ple. Life can often be so confusing. You don’t understand the new tech niques. The ways and sounds of this generation are hard to grasp. It all seems so strange to you. All you need is the blessed Lord Jesus Christ. He says, “I am the way.” Keep in mind that He’s not only the way you come in but also He’s the way you go through to the end of life and are ushered into all eternity. Trust Him
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