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| The Father's Anguishing Decision |
After a few of the usual Sunday evening hymns, the church's
pastor once again slowly stood up, walked over to the
pulpit, and gave a very brief introduction of his childhood
friend.
With that, an elderly man stepped up to the pulpit 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 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."
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. He continued,
"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 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 line
to his son's friend. By the time he pulled the friend back to
the capsized boat, his son had disappeared beyond the raging
swells into the black of night. His body was never recovered."
By this time, the two teenagers were sitting straighter in the
pew, waiting for the next words to come out of the old man'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. How great is the love of God
that He should do the same for us." With that, the old man
turned and sat back down in his chair as silence filled the
room.
Within minutes after the service ended, the two teenagers were
at the old man's side. "That was a nice story," politely started
one of the boys, "but I don't think it was very realistic for a
father to give up his 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,
and he once again looked p at the boys and said, "It sure isn't
very realistic, is it? But I'm standing here today to tell you
that 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 the son's
friend."
If we would all stop thinking so much of ourselves, and start
considering the needs of others -- what a beautiful world this
would be. If God sacrificed His only Son, that others might be
saved-how can we do less? Are we so full of ourselves (so
concerned with our own perceived and selfish needs) that we
think we are better than God? Should everyone else take second
place to our needs? On both counts, I THINK NOT!!
That we might honor our God, I challenge each of us to make a
positive Christian difference in someone else's life today-
RIGHT NOW!!. Just reach out to someone else and.....
Jesus died for our sins, even though He knew that not all would
accept him. But, our God thought our eternal souls were worth
the His Son's sacrifice. Can you make the anguishing decision
-will you accept His challenge? |
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