True Story

AFTER A FEW OF THE USUAL SUNDAY HYMNS,
THE CHURCH'S PASTOR SLOWLY STOOD UP,
WALKED OVER TO THE PULPIT AND,
BEFORE HE GAVE HIS SERMON FOR THE
EVENING,HE 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 S ON '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.'