Not without Jesus

January 24, 2007

By Gary Rogers

World War II ended in August 1945, but two Japanese solders lived in the mountains of Mindanao, one of the Philippine islands, for some 60 years after the war ended. The men were part of a unit of 16,000 soldiers on the island, of which only 3,000 survived the war.

Other Japanese soldiers exhibited similar dedication. Shoichi Yokoi hid for 27 years in the jungle of Guam without knowing the war had ended. Hiroo Onada hid on the Philippine island of Lubang for 29 years after the war ended. In February 1945, Onada, an intelligence officer, was ordered to stay behind and spy on the arriving U.S. troops during the Japanese withdrawal.

After the loss of his small unit of soldiers, Onada continued to hold out refusing to give up his post. It was not until March 1974 that he surrendered, but only after his former commander traveled to the Philippines and ordered him to come out.

What examples of devotion, dedication and commitment. To be able to hold out for so many years against adverse conditions and to continue on without any outside word of encouragement gains my respect. These soldiers had a cause they believed in. They had an assignment they accepted as their personal objective. They had a steadfastness that kept them faithful without wavering.

We have adopted for 2007 at our church the theme “Not Without Jesus.” This is our cause we believe in. This is our assignment we accept as our personal objective. This is our dedication to a steadfast resolve. Wherever we go, whatever we do, however our living conditions, Jesus remains the object of our devotion. And if Jesus wouldn’t go there, we won’t go there.

This is our dedication as a church. The same principle will bless your life in 2007. Jesus gives you this invitation:

“Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:29, NIV).

Gary Rogers is senior pastor of First Assembly of God in Coweta, Okla.