October Newsletter
As
I was studying John 3: 16, I came upon this story:
A Childhood Friend
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."
John 3: 16 is not realistic. It is
the good news of God’s love and salvation.
Your friend in Christ,
Pastor Ron