Page 7 - Good News April 2016 paper

fter a few of the usual Sunday
evening hymns, the church's
Apastor 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 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." 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 the 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 the 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 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 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," started one of the boys politely, but I
don't think it was very realistic for a father to give up his son's
life in the hope 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
as once again he 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
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!"

[Courtesy of Bill Kelly]