From: "Chuck Haag"
Subject: FW: Throw the Lifeline
Date: Tue, 13 Jun 2000 07:58:37 -0400
Importance: Normal
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."