Articles
Waiting For the Master
If you were to travel to the Shibuya train station in Tokyo, Japan, you might spot a memorial statue of a dog that once lived. The Japanese have honored this particular dog, because his story of dedication to his master touched their hearts.
Born in 1923, the dog named Hachikō was taken away from the countryside to live in the city of Tokyo by his master, Professor Ueno. Ueno worked at Tokyo Imperial University and would commute to work using the train. Every time the professor returned , Hachikō would be waiting for his master at Shibuya train station.
In May of 1925, Professor Ueno died of a cerebral hemorrhage at work and never returned home. Everyday Hachikō would come to the Shibuya train station waiting for his master until the dog’s death on March 8, 1935.
I think christians can relate to the life of Hachikō. We are also waiting for our Master’s return. In Luke 12:35-38 Jesus says: “Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them. It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the middle of the night or toward daybreak.”
Hachikō did not know when his master would return and neither do we (Luke 12:40). He never grew weary of waiting for his master and neither should we. How pleased would the professor be if he had recovered from his illness and returned home, finding his faithful dog greeting him at the train station? Likewise, how pleased will our Master be when He finds his servants have faithfully watched for His coming? What great rewards will there be for those servants?
Let’s be ready for His coming!
Joshua Pettigrew
Monticello church of Christ
