During the winter of 1944-1945, I was in the U.S. Army, and I was stationed in Germany. It was near the end of World War II. Our job was to build bridges so the troops could cross the rivers. My job was to keep the trucks and other vehicles working. Although other platoons built the bridges, my platoon had to take its turn in guarding them.
On this particular afternoon I checked the bulletin board and found my name listed for guard duty that night. It was a cold, wintry day and I did not have a warm coat. I headed right over to the supply room to get one so I could keep warm while on guard duty.
When I came out of the supply room to get on the guard truck, it had already left! Turning to some soldiers standing nearby, I asked, “What happened? Where’s the guard truck? I’m supposed to be on it.”
They answered, “Sergeant McGraw took your place. He wanted to go.”
Sergeant McGraw was a good friend, but he did not take my place on guard duty because he was my friend; he took it because he wanted excitement.
I was glad not to have to go on guard duty that cold night.
The next day I looked around for Sergeant McGraw, but I couldn’t find him. When I asked where he was, I was told that while he was standing guard that night, an artillery shell came in close, and he lost an arm. Not only did he take my place on guard duty, but he was wounded that night. Had he known what taking my place was going to cost him, he probably would not have gone.
I want to tell you something amazing and hard for me to understand. This was not the first time a friend had taken my place. Nearly 2000 years ago the Lord Jesus Christ took my place on Calvary’s cross and bore all the punishment that I deserve for my sins. He took my place because He loves me, knowing exactly what it was going to cost Him ... His life. It was no accident. It was God’s plan. And the Lord Jesus, God’s beloved Son, not only loved His Father and obeyed Him, but He loved me so much that He was willing to die that terrible death for me. “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 53:55But 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 53:5)). Such love cannot be explained; it can only be believed and accepted.
Sergeant McGraw did not lose his life. He was taken to the hospital and then he was sent back to his home in Texas. I never saw him again.
But I am going to see my Savior who died for me. After He died, He rose from the dead and went back to heaven. Before He went there, He said, “In My Father’s house are many mansions. ... I go to prepare a place for you. And ... I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there [you] may be also” (John 14:2-32In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. (John 14:2‑3)).
The Lord Jesus wants to save you, too. Will you believe that He died in your place for your sins and accept Him as your Savior?
Messages of God’s Love 10/6/2024