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,
> >
> > 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."
> >
> > THE CHURCH'S PASTOR SLOWLY STOOD UP,
> >
> > WALKED OVER TO THE PULPIT AND,
> >
> > BEFORE HE GAVE HIS SERMON FOR THE EVENING,
> >
> > 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."
Wow.
