Wednesday, May 17, 2006
THE OLD MAN AND THE SEA
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| Subscribe Unsubscribe Change E-mail View Archive THE OLD MAN AND THE SEA Author Unknown |
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 he would 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 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 body was never recovered."
By this time, the two teenagers were sitting straighter in the pew,
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. 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 a nice story," politely started one of the
boys, "but I don't think it was very realistic 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 realistic, is
it? But I'm standing here today to tell you that 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 the son's friend."
PRAYER
"Lord, open my ears to hear the good news of your kingdom and set my heart free to love and serve you joyfully. May nothing keep me from following you wholeheartedly."
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