Shoichi Yokio was a Japanese soldier during the Second World War.  He arrived on Guam with his unit in 1943.  In 1944, in the Battle of Guam, American forces captured the island.  Yokio and nine other soldiers hid in a cave.  Yokio remained in that cave the longest; he hid in the cave for 28 years.  The last eight years in the cave, he lived alone.  He survived by hunting, primarily at night.  He would eat wild nuts, mangos, papaya, shrimp, snails, frogs, and rats.  He also used native plants to make clothes, bedding, and storage implements.

On the evening of January 24, 1972, Yokio was discovered by 2 hunters.  Yokio thought his life was in danger, so he attacked the hunters.  They managed to subdue him and turned him over to the authorities.  He returned to his home in Japan in March, 1972.

WWII officially ended on September 2, 1945.  Yokio would later admit that he learned that the war was over in 1952.  Why did he continue to hide out in the cave?  His explanation was “We Japanese soldiers were told to prefer death to the disgrace of getting captured alive.”  Others believe that he remained in hiding because he feared being executed. *

You and I are involved in a war – a spiritual war.  The battleground is our hearts.  We succumb to the enemy when we sin against God.  Our sin separates us from God (Isaiah 59:1-2).  We become prisoners of war – imprisoned in sin (John 8:34).

But the war is over!  Despite the fact that we are sinners – and we all are sinners (Romans 3:23) – God loves us and desires to save us from sin and be reconciled to Him (John 3:16; 2 Corinthians 5:17-21).  In order to free us from sin, God gave His one and only Son Jesus to die on the cross to pay the price for our redemption (1 Peter 1:18-19).  “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace” (Ephesians 1:7).

The decisive battle was fought when Jesus died on the cross.  His resurrection from the grave three days later sealed the victory.  Sin and death have been defeated!

Yet many still live in prison.  Why?  Some don’t know their condition in sin; they don’t recognize the spiritual struggle of which they are a part.  Others refuse to leave the “cave” of sin because they don’t want to leave.  Still others continue to live in the prison of sin because they can’t bring themselves to accept the grace and mercy that are found in Christ.  They think, “God will never forgive me.”

Here’s the Good News:  The war is over!  Jesus won the victory over sin and death!  You and I can share in His victory if we will submit our lives to Him.  In Christ, we are set free from sin.  We are free – not to do whatever we want (that is lawlessness) – but we are free to live as we should: walking with God, seeking to do His will, which is always best.

God will forgive and free from sin those who place their faith and trust in Christ (Acts 16:30-31), turn from their sins in repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confess Christ before others (Romans 10:9-10), and are baptized (immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38).  He will continue to cleanse from sin those who continue to walk in the light of His Word (1 John 1:7-9).

Don’t stay imprisoned by sin!  Jesus has won the war!  Accept His offer of salvation and eternal life.  “If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed!” (John 8:36).

-- David A. Sargent

* Information gleaned from “Shoichi Yokio” in www.wikipedia.com and “Self-Made Prisoner” in the illustration resource in www.ministry127.com

David A. Sargent, Minister

Church of Christ at Creekwood 
1901 Schillinger Rd. S.
Mobile, Alabama  36695

Archived issues of Living Water can be viewed and accessed from our website at: www.creekwoodcc.org