Welcome to 10-minute Bible Talks, where we connect the Bible to your life.

In the time it takes to get to work. I'm Keith Simon. On the first day of teaching his class of 250 college

freshman, the professor, a guy named R.C. Sprole, carefully explained what his expectations were for each of the

three term papers. Each paper was going to be due on the last day of a month. The first one would be due

the last day of September, the second, the last day of October, and the third, the last day of

November. Sprole said, look, I've given you plenty of warning, so there won't be any extensions

granted. Well, at the end of September, about 225 of the 250 students turned in their paper,

while 25 students quaked in fear. They said, we are so sorry. We just didn't make the proper

adjustments from high school. Could you please be kind to us and let us

turn it in late? We promise we'll do better the next time. So the professor, R.C. Sproll, he gives in

and he says, okay, that's fine. I'll give you an extension, but don't be late the next month.

Well, the end of October rolls around, and this time only about 175 of the 250 college students turned their paper in on

time about 50 students showed up empty-handed they begged the professor please it was homecoming

time got away from us please be kind to us please let us turn the paper in late and so the professor's

roll he relented one more time and he warned them,

okay, look, you can turn it in late this time, but no excuses next time. Next time you will get an

F. The end of November came by, and this time only a hundred of the 250 students turned their

papers in on time. The rest told them, we'll get to it. We'll get to it soon enough.

Sorry, Sprole said. It's too late. You get an F on this paper. And the students, they were shocked. They said, this is not fair. And so Professor's Roll said, okay, great, you want fairness, you want justice. Here's what you'll get. You'll all get an F for the papers that were turned in late, not just the one in November, but any of them were turned in late in September, October. I mean, that was the rule, right?

The professor reflected... for the papers that were turned in late, not just the one of November, but any that were turned in late in September, October.

I mean, that was the rule, right?

The professor reflected on this later, and he said, look, the students had quickly taken my mercy for granted.

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