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A Father, Son, & Friend

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
HE WOULD 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 THE BOYS, "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 EALISTIC, 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."
 

Take 60 seconds & give this a shot!
All you do is:  simply say a small prayer for the person who sent you this,
(Father, God bless this person in whatever it is that you know he
or she may be needing this day!)