Taking Aim

 

 

     Sally’s teacher was well known for his elaborate object lessons. An object lesson is one that teaches you something special.

     One particular day, Sally walked into class and gasped. She knew that they were in for a fun day, for hanging on the wall, behind the teacher’s desk, was a big red and white target. Beside it on a small table were many darts. The students were very curious and whispered and talked among themselves, wondering why the target was on the wall.

     After calling the class to order, Dr. Smith told the students to draw a picture of someone they disliked or someone who had made them angry. After the pictures were drawn, he said, he would allow the students to throw darts at the person’s picture.

     The class laughed in anticipation. Sally’s girlfriend drew a picture of a girl who had stolen something from her. Another friend drew a picture of his little brother. Sally drew a picture of a former friend. She put a great deal of detail into her drawing, even drawing pimples on the girl’s face. Sally was pleased at the overall effect she had achieved.

     The class lined up, and as each student approached the front of the line, he presented his picture to Dr. Smith, who promptly pinned it to the dart board. Then the fun began. With much laughter and hilarity, the students whipped their darts toward their picture. Some of the students threw with such force that their target was ripping apart, while the other students clapped and cheered them on.

     Sally was really getting into the spirit of this game and could hardly wait for her turn. Imagine her disappointment when Dr. Smith, because of time limits, asked the students to return to their seats, and Sally had not had a chance to throw her darts. She sat thinking about how unfair it was that she did not have a chance to throw any darts at her target. Sally was trying to deal with her disappointment as Dr. Smith walked over and began removing the target from the wall. The students all gasped loudly, as the target came down, revealing a picture of Jesus. . . .

     A complete hush fell over the room as each student viewed the mangled face of Jesus; holes and jagged marks covered His face, and both of His eyes were pierced.

     Then Dr. Smith turned to the class and spoke these words, "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto Me." Matthew 25:40.

     No other words were necessary; the tear-filled eyes of each student focused only on the picture of Christ. They could not      take their eyes from His face. His eyes seemed to look directly into their own, guilt-ridden, eyes.

     "And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’" Ibid. (NKJV)

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