5. There once was a Japanese boy named Jack. His family members
worshipped many different idols, but Jack was skeptical about
them. Every time he saw the idols fall on the ground, they would
never get back up by themselves. Someone always had to help
them up. Jack thought to himself, “If idols aren’t even strong
enough to stand up, why do people respect and worship them?”
6. One day, he took one of the idols and tip-
toed into the garden. Then he dug a hole in
the ground and buried the idol beneath the
dirt.
7. Jack prayed to the idol saying, “Dear God, if you
can come out of this hole, I will worship you. If you
can’t even take care of yourself, how will you
protect me? Please allow me to challenge you in
this way!” Then Jack watched and waited.
8. The next day, he noticed that there was a little green sprout growing on the
patch of dirt where he had buried the idol. He pushed some of the dirt aside
and found the idol exactly the same as he had left it. In the idol’s hand,
however, there was a seed. Because of the shining sun and the moist dirt,
the seed had split open and sprouted into a little shoot.
9. Although Jack’s family members bowed down to
worship idols, Jack saw that even a small seed was
stronger than an idol. He wanted to find the meaning of
human life. Was there perhaps a real and living God?
10. Jack grew up and attended a university in the city of
Tokyo. One day, he read a line in his geography
textbook which said, “In the beginning God created
the heavens and the earth.” This was the answer to
all of his questions and considerations.
11. He wrote down a prayer in his heart, “Dear God, I still
don’t know who you are. If you have eyes, please
look at me. If you have ears, please listen to me.
Lead me to where you are.”
12. God would soon answer his prayer. Jack eventually
moved to Boston, Massachusetts. A ship owner
named Mr. Hardy invited Jack onboard his vessel.
13. It turns out Mr. Hardy was a man who loved God. He
answered all of Jack’s questions and even gave him a
Bible. Jack opened the Bible, and the first line said, “In the
beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Jack
had faith that God was the one who sent Mr. Hardy to
answer his questions.
14. Mr. Hardy treated Jack like his own son. He paid for Jack’s
schooling, and even sent him to a Bible school. Eventually, after
Jack graduated, Jack returned to Japan and established a
Christian university to spread the gospel.
15. Since Jack sought for God with a pure heart and
respected Him with a sincere heart, God appeared
to him. As long as we have a sincere and pure
heart to seek out God, it isn’t hard to tell the
difference between the real God and fake idols.
16. Pop Quiz!
How did Jack feel about all the idols in his
house?
Why did Jack bury one of the idols in the
garden?
What happened in the garden the next day?
What was the line in the Bible that answered
Jack’s questions about life?
How did God answer Jack’s prayer?
17. For everyone who asks
receives, and he who seeks
finds, and to him who
knocks it shall be opened.
Matt 7:8
18. Practice Makes Perfect!
Let’s pray:
“Lord Jesus,
show me that
you are real!”
*Scripture verses on all slides quoted from Recovery Version Bible by
Witness Lee. Used with permission from Living Stream Ministry.
