World Wide Bible Institute
Christian Growth SL-116 Assignment by Caroline Kido
Takashi is a 44-year-old man who lives in the country near the Japanese Alps. He is tall, slim, and has an athletic body, plus a certain determined look on his face that some may confuse with simply looking irritable.
You see, Takashi grew up being disciplined in the mastery of Kendo (modern Japanese martial arts, fighting with bamboo swords and armor) from an early age. He grew quite strong and won many Kendo games. As his fame spread throughout the prefecture, so did his pride. Takashi had an insatiable thirst for Kendo; it was on his mind 24 hours a day. That all changed when he converted to Christianity. He soon learned that bowing to any God other than God Almighty was a sin.
It was customary for Kendo players to bow to an idol on the wall after a Kendo game. He felt sorry to God after continuing the practice for some time and finally made the decision to stop playing Kendo. He thought his years of “discipline” were over, but actually, little did he know it was all about to begin.
The Holy Spirit convicted him that it was not good to have such a passion to “beat” people. A desire to be the strongest and therefore heap up lots of praise and attention from others.
His Kendo mentality meant that at work he treated almost everyone or anyone who opposed him as a threat, as an enemy that needed to be beaten.
Over time, he learned from the Holy Spirit that he had a lot of changing to do. Takashi wasn’t one known for his patience; he had a quick temper and would raise his voice often at his children. At work, he was unsociable and couldn’t tolerate people whose opinions differed from his.
He carried a lot of unrest within him, and often took it to the Lord for encouragement in deep meditation and prayer. Slowly he began to grow spiritually. He learned that he couldn’t change by his own strength, that this required a higher power than himself, not just sheer willpower.
He also learned that being weak meant being strong in the Lord. So he tried to give up the temptation to be strong in every given matter, but to first seek God’s kingdom, and not simply make his own judgments.
Then his desire to fight kicked into full life. After this realization and after many hours of sadness, wallowing in self-pity over his failures to be holy, did he then start to discipline himself rather in godly matters. No longer did he view others as his enemies, but instead his own flesh, the old man. The old Takashi.
The Holy Spirit had opened his eyes to the great sacrifice Jesus made on the cross in his place. How could he then turn around and betray his Friend, who gave himself for a weak and bad sinner? So he immersed himself in God’s Word each day, learning the tactics and movements of his enemy.
It was a spiritual battle he was learning to fight, not a physical one. He became thankful that Jesus Christ gave Himself in his place. He had a new life now in Christ and no longer wanted to operate under the rules of his flesh.
Takashi is not a perfect person and he knows he never will be in this lifetime on earth. However, he is aware that he cannot live any longer for sin, or for himself either. His daily joy is knowing that Christ lives in him, and he need not be in bondage to his flesh anymore.
Every day, he presses on towards the goal, that heavenly prize, not like the past, where he would beat his body for a medal, for recognition. No, he now fights the “good” fight.
I chose Takashi for my character sketch because I have lived with him many years and have witnessed the changes that the Holy Spirit has wrought in him. I have seen his battles with the flesh, his impatience, his selfishness, his pride. I am thankful that he is able to encourage me with the things that he has learned.
