During World War I, Keiichi Fukaya felt honoured to wear his uniform as he served in the Japanese army. He had great responsibilities keeping a constant watch on the troop movements in China. In order to keep his job he was expected to bow to a picture of Emperor Hirohito. However, he felt something was not right. In his heart he knew that although Emperor Hirohito had a great deal of power, he was not God. But he continued to bow to the pictures in spite of his conviction.
After the war, Mr. Fukaya returned to his family in Tokyo. About that time, a missionary who had recently come from England, began to tell them about a God who wanted all of man’s worship and would not share His glory with another. He also told them about God’s Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, who came into this world to save lost sinners. Mr. Fukaya was particularly disturbed when the missionary told them about the consequences of sin, because he knew that he had sinned.
Mrs. Fukaya was the first to accept the gospel message, and she began to witness to her husband. Often when Mr. Fukaya opened his lunch box at work, he found cards with words from the Bible such as, “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God”, and “It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.” Finally, Mr. Fukaya accepted the Gospel message of John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” That day Mr. Fukaya bowed before the true sovereign, the God of Heaven, and thanked Him for His Son and for eternal life.
The Lord Jesus not only died, but rose from the dead. The apostle Paul tells us that “God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow … and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord” (Philippians 2:9-11).
In many countries people pray to lifeless statues of stone and wood that do not have any ability to save. Others bow in spirit before political leaders, movie stars, or sports heroes. However God asks us to bow to Him alone. He asks us to believe His Word and to honour His Son with our faith and obedience. Whom do you serve and worship?
“I am the Lord … and my glory will I not give to another” (Isaiah 42:8).
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