Shimura Ken and the Gospel
I think it was the summer of 1990 (or was it 1991?). It was my second trip to Japan. I was staying overnight at a family friend's house in Chiba prefecture. That evening, we watched the tv together. A show came on and not long afterward, everyone watching was laughing out loud at a comedy skit. At this time, I have not able to understand any Japanese language. Regardless of my inability to comprehend any Japanese at that time, I was laughing till my belly was aching. I have never seen a show like this before. One person, in particular, stands out as the leading performer/comedian. His expression, demeanour, and comedic timing was incredible. I instantly became a fan of the show and the comedian right away. I asked my host the name of the show and the name of that comedian. The show was "大丈夫だあ" (Daijyoubudaa) and the name of the comedian was Shimura Ken 志村けん. When I returned to Toronto, I went and looked for the show at some Japanese video rental shop in Toronto (this was the time before youtube exist). It was hard to find videotapes of the show at that time. With great difficulties, I managed to locate a few here and there. But, it was all worth it, if only being able to watch Shimura Ken performed. To me, Shimura Ken was the symbol of Japanese comedy, and there are no others like him.
Yesterday, in the early morning, I found out that Shimura Ken has passed away due to the lung illness complication caused by the coronavirus. The news broke early yesterday morning (March 30th, 2020), and the whole of Japan was in a state of shock. He was a great comedian that was loved by many. His media appearances have brought much laughter to the Japanese audience for most of his life. Most Japanese people regarded him as a national treasure. As this is still recent, I am very sure that those who loved him are still in the early stage of disbelief in the cycle of grief.
Japan will never be the same without him. He will be, sorely, missed.
As someone who has brought much laughter into the home of many people, he was dearly beloved. Through tv, his face was inside many homes as if he was a part of the family. To many Japanese, losing him must have been like losing a family member. His death was so sudden. No one expected it. At his passing, families and friends were not at his bedside. They were not permitted to be near him due to potential infection. They never had a chance to see him for the last time, nor say a word of good-bye to him. For many who knew and loved him, both personally and publically, the thought of not being able to see the Shimura Ken anymore must have pierced their hearts with sadness and regret. To some, they must have wished to have the opportunity to do something different, if they have known that it will be their last time meeting him.
"Regret" is a powerful mixed feeling of emotions. It is a painful feeling of helplessness. It is a supreme feeling of dissatisfaction. It is slowly rusting away your thoughts and emotions. Just like an impact from being hit by a moving truck, it can leave you debilitated, unable to move-on mentally or physically. "Regret" leaves you wishing that if you can reset and do things all over again, you would have chosen to do things differently.
Can I ask you a question? If you found out that you are going to die in 24 hours, how would that knowledge guide you in all the decisions you made today? Would you choose to do the same things as you did yesterday? Who would you decide to meet if you know it would be your last? Would you go and be at the same place as your regular days? Or, would you live differently today than yesterday? What would you change? Who would you make an effort to meet? Are there any words that you have always wanted to say (or should have said) to someone but never did? Would you leave your life with many regrets? Or would you do all you can to avoid it? How would you set your priorities and actions differently if you know you have only 24 hours to live?
Whether it is someone else's or ours, death is a reality that rudely intrudes into our daily life. We often wilfully neglect its existence. We chose to live by ignoring that it is lurking and stalking us from the shadow. When it appears suddenly, we are often taken unaware and unprepared. At that instant, many of us wished to have lived differently or made different choices. But, the suddenness of death left us with no more opportunity to do so.
Most people do not know 'when' they are going to die. Some people died today. Did they see that they were going to die yesterday? There will be some people who will die tomorrow. Do they know, currently, that they are going to die? How about you? Are you confident about the continuation of your life tomorrow? Are you satisfied that your life is without regret? How would you live your life differently?
Allow me to ask another question further. If you know what would happen to you after death, how would you live your life on this earth differently? Do the things you do and the decision you made in this world have any effect beyond your death? Does the knowledge of existence beyond death affect your current life priorities?
To most of us, death is something that is left for religions to answer.
It is a question that we left to the domain of private belief. It is a personal space that should be left alone. These days, most people would feel uncomfortable when questioned regarding their ideas about God or what happened to them after death. It is usually socially prohibited to mention them as conversation topics. We felt discomfort when other people challenged us regarding the choices we have made. These types of discussions will often lead to conflict. We prefer to keep the peace and have everyone get along. However, this peace comes at a cost. When death suddenly intrude upon your life, are you confident that what you believe about God and the afterlife are without mistake? What if you are wrong?
We all make mistakes. One way or the other, we will receive the consequences of our errors. We learn from our mistakes and move on to be better. However, some mistakes are fatal. You can only make a one-time decision. If you are wrong, there is no chance to reset or redo. The wrong choices on something important can only lead to regret.
There is one significant question that every living human had to face sooner or later. All of us had to decide what we believe about God and the afterlife. It is once in a lifetime decision. It is a decision that carries fatal consequences. If you are wrong about God and the afterlife, the results will lead to eternal regret. However, this is a decision that most of us ignore. Often, we are so busy with our life that we forgot that we have to face them.
To many people, the death of Shimura Ken san is like losing a good friend. A good friend is someone who reminds us of what is important in our life. Although he passed away, Shimura Ken teaches us that each of us has a very important decision to make. An important decision that we cannot afford to be wrong. What do you believe about God and life after death?
As you ponder this important question, please consider all the information available before you made the decision. For example, some people find comfort in the idea of reincarnation. However, reincarnation cannot provide the answer to the increase in the world population. Some people believe that there will be nothing after death. However, atheism is an unscientific position. It cannot sufficiently explain the origin of life and cannot explain the need for morality in human society. Atheism makes our existence as human meaningless by attributing everything we feel to just merely a biological reaction.
Can I share with you a piece of important information? Two thousand years ago, there was a man who died and came back again to life. Various historical documents testify to the existence of this man. According to him, all humans are created by the Creator God. However, humanity has abandoned God and lived in a way that does not acknowledge Him nor give thanks to Him. Each one of us lives without regard to our Creator God. In God's eyes, there is no one innocent person in this world.
All of us have one life to live, and after that, we all will be judged by Him. In God's judgment, He has declared all of us to be guilty of abandoning Him. By not acknowledging our God, we have made our Creator God to be our enemy. The befitting punishment for God's enemy is an everlasting torment of God's wrath. Since all of us are guilty of making God into our enemy, then all of us are in danger of receiving God's wrath as our punishment. All of these are the critical information that you need to know before you made an important decision before your death. However, these are not all of them. There is one more important information that you should know.
Here is the most critical information. God has done something incredible that benefits us. He did a gracious act that makes it possible to reconcile (make peace) the guilty people to Him. He made a plan to save us from His judgment and wrath. Two thousand years ago, God came into this earth and became a human being like us. However, unlike us, He lived a perfect life without any sins or mistakes. Ultimately, according to His perfect salvation plan, He willingly went to the cross and received all the wrath and judgment that we ought to receive. The Perfect One died in the exchange of the place of the guilty ones. Jesus Christ's death on the cross makes it possible for those who believed in Him, to be forgiven and reconciled to their Maker. All this is possible because He took away their punishment.
But death cannot hold Jesus because He is the God of life. After three days, Jesus came back to life. Now, Jesus reigned from heaven. He is the righteousness of God for all humans who decided to put their faith and trust in Him.
The good news is that, for those who put their trust in Jesus, there is no more wrath of God waiting for them after their death. They will not be in any danger of the eternal judgment. God does not regard them as enemies anymore. Instead, God reclaiming them as beloved children. To be loved and cared for by Him forever. One day, Jesus will return and remake all of this world. His future return has two different meanings for two different types of people. For the people who reject Him, they have chosen to continue to identify themselves as God's enemy. To these people, Jesus will return as the Judge who will give them the eternal punishment of His wrath. However, for the people who put their trust in Jesus as their Lord and Saviour, they have chosen to be a part of God's family. Jesus will be returning to take them into their eternal home where they will live with Him forever where there will be no more evil, no more sorrow, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes. They will be satisfied with God forever.
The most significant decision all human has to make is to whether or not trust in Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. God has commanded for all His human enemies repent and to seek reconciliation with Him through faith in Jesus Christ. It is a once in a lifetime decision that every person has to make. What you decide will have eternal consequences on you. Whether an eternity in hell as God's forever enemy or an eternity in heaven as one of God's children, the choice is yours on this side of the world. I urge you, choose life by repenting of your sins and put your trust in Jesus as your Lord and saviour.
If you have read this far, I appreciate you for taking the time to do so. I hope the information I convey to you is clear. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to write and contact me.
Yesterday, in the early morning, I found out that Shimura Ken has passed away due to the lung illness complication caused by the coronavirus. The news broke early yesterday morning (March 30th, 2020), and the whole of Japan was in a state of shock. He was a great comedian that was loved by many. His media appearances have brought much laughter to the Japanese audience for most of his life. Most Japanese people regarded him as a national treasure. As this is still recent, I am very sure that those who loved him are still in the early stage of disbelief in the cycle of grief.
Japan will never be the same without him. He will be, sorely, missed.
As someone who has brought much laughter into the home of many people, he was dearly beloved. Through tv, his face was inside many homes as if he was a part of the family. To many Japanese, losing him must have been like losing a family member. His death was so sudden. No one expected it. At his passing, families and friends were not at his bedside. They were not permitted to be near him due to potential infection. They never had a chance to see him for the last time, nor say a word of good-bye to him. For many who knew and loved him, both personally and publically, the thought of not being able to see the Shimura Ken anymore must have pierced their hearts with sadness and regret. To some, they must have wished to have the opportunity to do something different, if they have known that it will be their last time meeting him.
"Regret" is a powerful mixed feeling of emotions. It is a painful feeling of helplessness. It is a supreme feeling of dissatisfaction. It is slowly rusting away your thoughts and emotions. Just like an impact from being hit by a moving truck, it can leave you debilitated, unable to move-on mentally or physically. "Regret" leaves you wishing that if you can reset and do things all over again, you would have chosen to do things differently.
Can I ask you a question? If you found out that you are going to die in 24 hours, how would that knowledge guide you in all the decisions you made today? Would you choose to do the same things as you did yesterday? Who would you decide to meet if you know it would be your last? Would you go and be at the same place as your regular days? Or, would you live differently today than yesterday? What would you change? Who would you make an effort to meet? Are there any words that you have always wanted to say (or should have said) to someone but never did? Would you leave your life with many regrets? Or would you do all you can to avoid it? How would you set your priorities and actions differently if you know you have only 24 hours to live?
Whether it is someone else's or ours, death is a reality that rudely intrudes into our daily life. We often wilfully neglect its existence. We chose to live by ignoring that it is lurking and stalking us from the shadow. When it appears suddenly, we are often taken unaware and unprepared. At that instant, many of us wished to have lived differently or made different choices. But, the suddenness of death left us with no more opportunity to do so.
Most people do not know 'when' they are going to die. Some people died today. Did they see that they were going to die yesterday? There will be some people who will die tomorrow. Do they know, currently, that they are going to die? How about you? Are you confident about the continuation of your life tomorrow? Are you satisfied that your life is without regret? How would you live your life differently?
Allow me to ask another question further. If you know what would happen to you after death, how would you live your life on this earth differently? Do the things you do and the decision you made in this world have any effect beyond your death? Does the knowledge of existence beyond death affect your current life priorities?
To most of us, death is something that is left for religions to answer.
It is a question that we left to the domain of private belief. It is a personal space that should be left alone. These days, most people would feel uncomfortable when questioned regarding their ideas about God or what happened to them after death. It is usually socially prohibited to mention them as conversation topics. We felt discomfort when other people challenged us regarding the choices we have made. These types of discussions will often lead to conflict. We prefer to keep the peace and have everyone get along. However, this peace comes at a cost. When death suddenly intrude upon your life, are you confident that what you believe about God and the afterlife are without mistake? What if you are wrong?
We all make mistakes. One way or the other, we will receive the consequences of our errors. We learn from our mistakes and move on to be better. However, some mistakes are fatal. You can only make a one-time decision. If you are wrong, there is no chance to reset or redo. The wrong choices on something important can only lead to regret.
There is one significant question that every living human had to face sooner or later. All of us had to decide what we believe about God and the afterlife. It is once in a lifetime decision. It is a decision that carries fatal consequences. If you are wrong about God and the afterlife, the results will lead to eternal regret. However, this is a decision that most of us ignore. Often, we are so busy with our life that we forgot that we have to face them.
To many people, the death of Shimura Ken san is like losing a good friend. A good friend is someone who reminds us of what is important in our life. Although he passed away, Shimura Ken teaches us that each of us has a very important decision to make. An important decision that we cannot afford to be wrong. What do you believe about God and life after death?
As you ponder this important question, please consider all the information available before you made the decision. For example, some people find comfort in the idea of reincarnation. However, reincarnation cannot provide the answer to the increase in the world population. Some people believe that there will be nothing after death. However, atheism is an unscientific position. It cannot sufficiently explain the origin of life and cannot explain the need for morality in human society. Atheism makes our existence as human meaningless by attributing everything we feel to just merely a biological reaction.
Can I share with you a piece of important information? Two thousand years ago, there was a man who died and came back again to life. Various historical documents testify to the existence of this man. According to him, all humans are created by the Creator God. However, humanity has abandoned God and lived in a way that does not acknowledge Him nor give thanks to Him. Each one of us lives without regard to our Creator God. In God's eyes, there is no one innocent person in this world.
All of us have one life to live, and after that, we all will be judged by Him. In God's judgment, He has declared all of us to be guilty of abandoning Him. By not acknowledging our God, we have made our Creator God to be our enemy. The befitting punishment for God's enemy is an everlasting torment of God's wrath. Since all of us are guilty of making God into our enemy, then all of us are in danger of receiving God's wrath as our punishment. All of these are the critical information that you need to know before you made an important decision before your death. However, these are not all of them. There is one more important information that you should know.
Here is the most critical information. God has done something incredible that benefits us. He did a gracious act that makes it possible to reconcile (make peace) the guilty people to Him. He made a plan to save us from His judgment and wrath. Two thousand years ago, God came into this earth and became a human being like us. However, unlike us, He lived a perfect life without any sins or mistakes. Ultimately, according to His perfect salvation plan, He willingly went to the cross and received all the wrath and judgment that we ought to receive. The Perfect One died in the exchange of the place of the guilty ones. Jesus Christ's death on the cross makes it possible for those who believed in Him, to be forgiven and reconciled to their Maker. All this is possible because He took away their punishment.
But death cannot hold Jesus because He is the God of life. After three days, Jesus came back to life. Now, Jesus reigned from heaven. He is the righteousness of God for all humans who decided to put their faith and trust in Him.
The good news is that, for those who put their trust in Jesus, there is no more wrath of God waiting for them after their death. They will not be in any danger of the eternal judgment. God does not regard them as enemies anymore. Instead, God reclaiming them as beloved children. To be loved and cared for by Him forever. One day, Jesus will return and remake all of this world. His future return has two different meanings for two different types of people. For the people who reject Him, they have chosen to continue to identify themselves as God's enemy. To these people, Jesus will return as the Judge who will give them the eternal punishment of His wrath. However, for the people who put their trust in Jesus as their Lord and Saviour, they have chosen to be a part of God's family. Jesus will be returning to take them into their eternal home where they will live with Him forever where there will be no more evil, no more sorrow, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes. They will be satisfied with God forever.
The most significant decision all human has to make is to whether or not trust in Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. God has commanded for all His human enemies repent and to seek reconciliation with Him through faith in Jesus Christ. It is a once in a lifetime decision that every person has to make. What you decide will have eternal consequences on you. Whether an eternity in hell as God's forever enemy or an eternity in heaven as one of God's children, the choice is yours on this side of the world. I urge you, choose life by repenting of your sins and put your trust in Jesus as your Lord and saviour.
If you have read this far, I appreciate you for taking the time to do so. I hope the information I convey to you is clear. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to write and contact me.
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