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Years ago there was a school in a rural area which no teacher could handle. The boys were so rough that the teachers resigned. A young, grey-eyed teacher applied, and the director scanned him, then said, “Young man, do you know what you are asking for? An awful beating! Every teacher we have had for years has had to take it.”

He replied, “I’ll risk it.”

Finally he appeared for duty. One big fellow, Tom, whispered “I won’t need any help. I can lick him myself!”

The teacher said, “Good morning, boys! We have come to conduct school, but I confess I do not know how unless you help me. Suppose we have a few rules. You tell me and I will write them on the blackboard.”

One fellow yelled, “No stealing.” Another yelled, “On time.” Finally, ten rules appeared.

“Now,” said the teacher, “a law is no good unless there is a penalty attached. What shall we do with the one who breaks them?”

Someone yelled, “Beat them across the back ten times without his coat on.”

“That is pretty severe, boys. Are you sure you are prepared to stand by it?” Another yelled “yes,” and the teacher said, “School, come to order!”

In a day or so, “Big Tom” found his lunch was stolen. Upon inquiry, the thief was located—a hungry little fellow, about ten. The next morning the teacher announced, “We have found the thief and he must be punished according to your rule—ten stripes across the back! Jim, come up here!”

The little fellow, trembling, came up slowly with a big coat fastened up to his neck and pleaded, “Teacher you can lick me as hard as you like, but please don’t take my coat off.”

“Take the coat off. You helped make the rules!” replied the teacher.

“Oh, teacher, don’t make me!” He began to unbutton, and what did the teacher behold! The little fellow had no shirt, but only strings for suspenders over his bony body.

“How can I whip this child?” he thought. “But, I must do something if I am going to keep this school.” Everything was quiet as death. “How come you don’t have a shirt, Jim?”

He replied, “My father died and mother is very poor. I have only one shirt and she is washing that today. I wore my brother’s big coat to keep me warm.”

The teacher with the rod in hand hesitated. Just then “Big Tom” jumped to his feet and said, “Teacher, if you don’t object, I will take Jim’s licking for him.”

“Very well, There is a certain law that one can become a substitute for another. Are you all agreed?”

Off came Tom’s coat and after five hard strokes the rod broke! The teacher bowed his head in his hands and thought, “How can I finish this awful task?”

Then he heard the entire school sobbing, and what did he see? Little Jim had reached up and caught Tom with both arms around the neck.

“Tom, I am sorry I stole your lunch, but I was awful hungry. Tom, I’ll love you till the day I die for taking my licking for me. Yes, I’ll love you forever!” —Author unknown

Friend, you have broken God’s rules and deserve eternal punishment! But Jesus Christ took your beating for you, died in your place and now offers to clothe your naked back with His own robe of salvation.

The Bible says, “Surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes WE are healed” (Isaiah 53:4,5).

God has allowed Jesus to be a substitute for you and has punished Him in your place. IF you, like Little Jim, are truly sorry for your sins and will trust that as Jesus died on the cross it was in payment for your offenses, THEN you shall be saved.

As Little Jim loved Tom, the result of that salvation will be love for Jesus that will last forever. Friend, do not be deceived: if your heart is cold and indifferent to what Jesus has done for you by “taking your whipping,” then you need to be saved!

“For God so loved the world (that means me and you), that He gave (that means He did it freely) His only begotten Son (that was Jesus Christ), that whosoever (that means it is available to all, but is limited to those who actually do) believeth in Him (that means whosoever relies on and clings to His death as payment for their sins and His resurrection as proof that the payment was acceptable) should not perish (that means the believing person will not himself have to suffer the penalty of his sins) but have (that means immediately possess) everlasting life” (John 3:16).

Do not put it off. Call upon Jesus today and tell Him in your own words that you know you are a lost and guilty sinner, that you are trusting Him to forgive you and keep you into eternity, and that you will love Him forever!

BE SURE YOU ARE SAVED.
SALVATION IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN YOUR LIFE. IF YOU LOSE YOUR SOUL, YOU WILL HAVE LOST EVERYTHING.

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