Beliefs Matter
Read Time: 2 min
For 29 years, Hiroo Onoda, an Imperial Japanese Army officer, refused to believe World War II was over. When he was sent to the Philippines in late 1944, his last order was to keep fighting until given further orders. After Japan surrendered, Onoda and several others who had also been trained in guerrilla tactics remained hidden on Lubang Island. They built bamboo huts, stole food from villages, patched their uniforms, and kept their guns in working order.
Leaflets were dropped from planes explaining that the war had ended, but Onoda and his comrades believed it was enemy propaganda. They continued to evade search parties until, one by one, the men died or surrendered. Not until 1974 did Lieutenant Onoda change his mind. It took a delegation from the Japanese government and his own brother to finally convince him to lay down his weapons.
God has sent messages from heaven asking us to surrender our lives to Christ. The Bible provides the truth of the gospel, but many refuse to study Scripture and think it is useless material or even distorted propaganda. But within the pages of this sacred book, we learn that Jesus was victorious over Satan at the cross of Calvary.
Hiroo Onoda reminds us that what you believe matters and shapes your life. Throughout this devotional, we’ll learn about 28 basic Bible teachings—beliefs that matter, change you, and show God’s great love for you. Satan has attempted to make you believe in fallacies that will keep you fighting useless battles that will eventually lead you to death. Take time every day to study the Word of God and believe its contents.
Read the Bible for yourself, become acquainted with Christ who is “the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). Don’t trust the propaganda of the devil. And when you know the truth for yourself, the Bible promises that it will set you free.
Apply It:
Make a commitment to read a portion of the Bible every day.
Dig Deeper:
Psalm 119:15; John 17:17; 2 Timothy 3:15–17
Key Bible Texts
And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. (John 8:32 KJV)