AFTER A FEW OF THE USUAL SUNDAY EVENING HYMNS, THE
CHURCH'S PASTOR SLOWLY STOOD UP, WALKED OVER TO THE PULPIT AND, BEFORE
HE GAVE HIS SERMON FOR THE EVENING, HE BRIEFLY INTRODUCED A GUEST
MINISTER WHO WAS IN 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 CHURCH
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 WOULD HE 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 OUT 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 INTO THE BLACK OF NIGHT.
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 THE 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 PASTOR AGAIN
WALKED SLOWLY 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 THEM, '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.'
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