Mr. Yataro Yamaguchi 2
In vain Evangelist Kasamatsu pressed him to open his life to Jesus Christ. At times it seemed the fruit contractor was about to yield, then he drew back and resisted the pleadings of the Holy Spirit.
I had many conversations with Mr Yamaguchi myself, but both Evangelist Kasamatsu and I came at last to the conclusion that his love of money, stood between Yamaguchi and his soul's salvation and we feared he might never be saved.
After three months we left Sacramento and went elsewhere to preach.
It was about a year later that I returned, this time with a Mr. William M. Horsey, an evangelist from the East coast of the United States. We rented an auditorium and had nightly meetings for some weeks.
On Saturday evenings we would go out into the street and preach the gospel to large crowds in the business district, which was also near the part of the city where many Japanese lived and worked.
One Saturday night I was pleased to see Mr. Yamaguchi in the crowd, and I noticed that he seemed to be listening intently.
At the close he came right over to me, shook me warmly by the hand, inquired kindly after Evangelist Kasamatsu, and then asked about our church meetings.
He surprised me by eagerly inquiring if we had "a meeting where you eat the bread, drink the wine, show how Jesus Christ died for sinners?"
I knew he meant the Communion and told him we observed the Lord's Supper each Sunday when we came to church.
"May I come?" he asked.
"Certainly," I replied, "we do not shut anyone out, though only those who know and love the Lord participate at His table."
The next morning he attended that service. There were less than twenty of us, so he was quite conspicuous as he sat throughout with the most intent look imaginable upon his face, watching us carefully and following all the hymns, prayers and Scriptures that we read.
As soon as we had partaken of the communion, he rose to his feet exclaiming, "I want to pray!"
I felt sorry I had not explained that strangers such as he were not expected to take part in the service and I greatly feared his words would disturb what had been thus far a very precious remembrance of the Lord.
But I need not have feared. He prayed much as follows:
"O God, I all broke up. One whole year I fight You. I fight hard against Your Holy Spirit. O God, I cannot fight any more. I see Your people eat the bread, drink the wine, tell how Jesus die for sinner like me. O God, I give up. I take Jesus now for my Saviour. Forgive all my sins. Save me now for Jesus' sake. Amen."
