Page 1 - Good News September 2019 paper

fter a few of the usual make the decision.
Sunday evening hymns,
Athe church's pastor once The father knew that his son was a
again slowly stood up, walked Christian, and he also knew that
over to the pulpit, and gave a very his son's friend was not. The
brief introduction of his child- agony of his decision could not be
hood friend. matched by the torrent of the
waves!
With that, an elderly man stepped
up to the pulpit to speak. "As the father yelled out, 'I love
you son!' he threw the line to his
"A father, his son, and a friend of son's friend. By the time he pulled
his son were sailing off the the friend back to the capsized
Pacific Coast," he began, "when a boat, his son had disappeared
fast approaching storm blocked beyond the raging swells into the
any attempt to get back to the black of the night. His body was
shore. The waves were so high, never recovered."
that even though the father was
an experienced sailor, he could By this time, the two teenagers
not keep the boat upright, and the were sitting straighter in the pew,
three were swept into the ocean." waiting for the next words to
come out of the old man's mouth. https://sailuniverse.com
The old man hesitated for a filled the room. Within minutes the old man replied, glancing
moment, making eye contact with "The father," he continued, "knew after the service ended, the two down at his worn Bible. A big
two teenagers who were, for the his son would step into eternity teenagers were at the old man's smile broadened his narrow face,
first time since the service began, with Jesus, and he could not bear side. and once again looked up at the
looking somewhat interested in the thought of his son's friend boys and said: "It sure isn't very
his story. stepping into eternity without "That was a nice story," started realistic, is it? But I'm standing
Jesus. Therefore, he sacrificed one of the boys politely, but I don't here today to tell you that THAT
He continued, "Grabbing a his son. How great is the love of think it was very realistic for a story gives me a glimpse of what
rescue line, the father had to God that He should do the same father to give up his son's life in it must have been like for God to
make the most excruciating for us!" the hope that the other boy would give up His Son for me. You see…
decision of his life… to which boy become a Christian.” I was the son's friend!"
he would throw the other end of With that, the old man turned and [TEARS IN MY HEART by James
the line? He only had seconds to sat down in his chair as silence "Well, you've got a point there," Collins, Xulon Press, 2007].