After a few of the usual Sunday evening hymns, the
church's young pastor slowly stood up, walked over
to the pulpit and, before he gave his sermon for
the evening, briefly introduced an elderly guest
minister who was at the service that evening. In
the introduction, the pastor told the congregation
that the guest minister was one of his dearest
childhood friends and that he wanted him to have a
few moments to greet the congregation and share
whatever he felt would be appropriate for the
service. With that, an elderly man stepped up to
the pulpit and began to speak.
"A father, his son, and a friend of his son were
sailing off the Pacific coast," he began, "when a
fast approaching storm blocked any attempt to get
back to the shore. The waves were so high, that
even though the father was an experienced sailor,
he could not keep the boat upright and the three
were swept into the ocean as the boat capsized."
The old man hesitated for a moment, making eye
contact with two teenagers who were, for the first
time since the service began, looking somewhat
interested in his story.
The aged minister continued with his story,
"grabbing a rescue line, the father had to make
the most excruciating decision of his life to
which boy he would throw the other end of the life
line. He only had seconds to make the decision.
The father knew that his son was a Christian and
he also knew that his son's friend was not. The
agony of his decision could not be matched by the
torrent of waves.
"As the father yelled out, 'I
love you, son! He threw the life line to his son's
friend. By the time the father had pulled the
friend back to the capsized boat, his son had
disappeared beneath the raging swells. His body
was never recovered."
By this time, the two teenagers were sitting up
straight in the pew, anxiously waiting for the
next words to come out of the old minister's
mouth.
"The father," he continued, "knew his son would
step into eternity with Jesus and he could not
bear the thought of his son's friend stepping into
an eternity without Jesus. Therefore, he
sacrificed his son to save his son's friend. How
great is the love of God that he should do the
same for us."
"Our heavenly Father sacrificed his only begotten
Son that we could be saved. I urge you to accept
His offer to rescue you and take a hold of the
life line he is throwing out to you in this
service."
With that, the old man turned and sat back down in
his chair as silence filled the room.
The young pastor again walked to the pulpit and
delivered a brief sermon with an invitation at the
end. However, no one responded to the appeal.
Within minutes after the service ended, the two
teenagers were at the old man's side.
"That was a nice story," politely stated one of
the boys, "but I don't think it was very realistic
for a father to give up his only son's life in
hopes that the other boy would become a
Christian."
"Well, you've got a point there," the old man
replied, glancing down at his worn bible. A big
smile broadened his narrow face, he once again
looked up at the boys and said, "It sure isn't
very realistic, is it? But I'm standing here
today to tell you that story gives me a glimpse of
what it must have been like for God to give up his
Son for me."
"You see....I was that father and
your pastor is my son's friend."
Sent in by Tom & Mom...Thanks!!!