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 would he 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 even 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 son's body was never recovered."
By this time, the two teenagers were listening very attentively, 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. Oh, 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 an awesome story," said one of the boys,
"but I don't think it was very logical 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 up at the boys and said, "It sure isn't very logical, is it? But I'm
here today to tell you the fact THAT story gives me a glimpse of what it must
have been like for God to give up His Son for me."
"You see, boys . . . I was the son's friend."
Author Unknown
The Storm - The Anchor Holds
Ray Boltz
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