Inside Story – Thrice Saved
At age 4, Jesse lost his mother. By the time he was 9, Jesse lived in foster homes. As a teen, he met a young man who played basketball. When Jesse shared his name, the young man looked surprised. Your mother and my father were brother and sister!
Image © Jeff Preston from GoodSalt.com
Taking Jesse home, the cousin introduced him to the rest of the family. That’s when Jesse learned that his mother had died of complications caused by his father’s beatings.
Jesse moved in with his uncle, and as his anger simmered, he joined the U.S. air national guard, then switched to the U.S. Marines. He married, had three children, but later divorced. I felt hurt and empty inside,
he recalled. Once more I had no family and felt completely alone.
Feeling life wasn’t worth living, Jesse took his rifle and ammunition down to the beach with plans to end his life. Wading into the sea, he sat down on a rock. Soon a policeman came, but Jesse raised his rifle, warning him to stay away. Then the colonel from the Marine base arrived, ordering him to put the gun down. Jesse refused. But when he saw his father approaching, Jesse put the gun into his mouth and pulled the trigger. There was an explosion and he fell backward–still alive. The bullet had jammed halfway through the barrel.
Jesse was discharged from the Marines and tried again to commit suicide. This time he ended up in the hospital emergency room where he met Dr. Nozaki, a Seventh-day Adventist physician determined to save him. When he awoke after surgery, Jesse found a Bible by his bed, placed there by Dr. Nozaki. He hid the Bible, but each day he found another one.
When Jesse was released from the hospital, Dr. Nozaki urged him to read the book of John. Finally, Jesse agreed. The doctor called him each day, making sure that he had food and clothing. In time, Jesse realized that Dr. Nozaki really cared and he learned to trust him. He started Bible studies, and the doctor invited him to church.
One day Jesse returned to the rock where he had tried to kill himself and thanked God for saving his life. He continued studying and was baptized into the Seventh-day Adventist Church. For the first time in my life,
he said, I felt peace.
Later, with the doctor’s encouragement, Jesse and his wife reconciled. They remarried in Dr. Nozaki’s home.
Produced by the General Conference Office of Adventist Mission.
Find more mission stories at www.adventistmission.org
A testimony to God’s love. Jesse could have killed himself in the first attempt, but God wanted to save him. He enabled him to have at his bedside a servant who was keen to make him read the Bible. Reading the Word of God helps people to discover Jesus Christ, the only One capable of bringing peace, comfort and life.
“But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, [even] as by the Spirit of the Lord”(2 Cor 3:18). Praise God for the plan of salvation and His saving grace.
“But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, [even] as by the Spirit of the Lord.” 2 Cor 3:18
I admire Dr Nozaki’s down to earth approach. Showing that you really care does not stop on the first day but a genuine concern to others goes for many days and months and often time years. Thank you for this encouraging story.
Jesse’s story began at home and ended at home. It shows us how a home influences a life for good or for bad. But thank God that even thou Jesse’s life and choices were molded wrong from how his dad ruled his household- Jesus still came through to fix his life and his home. “the heart of the community, of the church, and of the nation is the household.” Adventist Home 15.1
That’s an amazing story, God had a plan for his life, and a plan for the doctor as well!
How much of us would have had such patience, replacing the bible everyday and following up and by no doubt endless praying!
Let us all say, “If you can use anything Lord, please use use me!”
Very inspirational always we should not give up upon our daily setbacks Jesus uses people like Dr Nozaki, in our lifes all started at home and ended at home lets invite God in our homes alltimes.
woooow what a wonderful saviour is jesus our lordz,he works in a misterious way……if God wanted jesse would have died in the first attempt but Gods love prevail and death lost as though that wasnt enough Gods lpve which suppases all was still ther for jesse in thick and thin…lets all learn to trust God and all shall be well