The Old Man And The Sea

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 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."

- Author Unknown

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