LIFE IN THE SON (Part I)
It is mission critical that we recognize and receive JESUS CHRIST, THE
SOURCE OF ALL LIFE and THE AUTHOR AND FINISHER OF OUR FAITH, via committed and
continual faith in Him. (John 1:4 – Hebrews 12:2) One of my favorite stories
tells us exactly why, in a very eloquent and memorable manner:
A wealthy man and his son loved to collect rare works of art. They
owned many beautiful and precious paintings of the master artists, from Rafael
to Picasso. Often during the evening hours, they would sit together to
admire and discuss their magnificent art treasures.
When the Vietnam War broke out, the son was drafted into the U.S.
Army. He was very courageous and died in battle while rescuing another
soldier. When the father was notified, he grieved deeply and inconsolably
for his only son.
One month later, there came a knock at his door. A young man stood
in the doorway holding a large package in his hands. He said, “Sir, you
don’t know me, but I am the soldier for whom your son gave his life. He
saved many lives that day, and he was carrying me to safety when a bullet
struck him in the heart. He died instantly. I am so very sorry for
your loss. So often, he spoke of you and your mutual love for fine art.”
The young man held out a package, wrapped in plain brown paper. “I
know this isn’t much. I’m not really a great artist, but I think your son
would want you to have this.”
The father opened the package. It was a beautiful portrait of his
son, which had been painted by the young soldier standing in the doorway.
He stared in awe at the way this soldier had captured the spirit and
personality of his son in the painting. The father was so drawn to his
son’s eyes that his own eyes welled up with tears. He thanked the young
man repeatedly and offered to pay him for the portrait.
“No sir, I could never repay what you son did for me. He saved my
life. This is a gift.”
The father immediately hung his son’s portrait over the mantle in a place
of special honor. Every time visitors came to his home, he took them to
see the portrait of his son before showing them any of the other great works of
art he had collected.
Unfortunately, the father died a few months later. There was a great
auction of his paintings. Many influential people gathered, excited about
the opportunity to acquire some of those exceptional paintings for their own
collections. On the platform, center stage, stood the portrait of the
deceased man’s heroic son.
The auctioneer pounded his gavel. “This evening, we start our
bidding with the picture of the son.
Who will bid for this portrait?” Absolute silence prevailed. After
a few moments, a voice from the back of the room shouted, “We came to see the famous
paintings. Just skip over this one.”
But the auctioneer persisted, “Will someone bid for this painting?
Who will start the bidding? $100? $200?” Another voice, more
angry this time, boomed out: “No one wants to buy this painting. We came
to see the Van Gogh’s, the Rembrandt’s and the Picasso’s. Get on with the
real bidding!”
But still the auctioneer continued. “The son! The son! Who will take the son?”
Finally, a meek voice spoke from the rear of the room. It was the
longtime gardener of the deceased father and son. “I’ll pay ten dollars
for this beautiful painting.” And being a poor man, it was all he could
afford.
“We have ten dollars. Who will bid twenty?” Someone else had
grown tired and inpatient. “Give it to him for ten dollars, and let’s get
on with it!” The crowd had become agitated. They didn’t want the
picture of the son. They were seeking more worthy investments for their
collections. So, the auctioneer pounded his gavel and announced “Going
once, going twice, sold for ten dollars!”
One man seated down front remarked, “Now we can get on with the REAL
collection!”
But the auctioneer laid down his gavel. “I am sorry,” he announced,
“but this auction is over.” Someone shouted out in shocked disbelief,
“What about the other paintings?” The auctioneer explained, “When I was
called to conduct this auction, I was told of a secret stipulation in your deceased
friend’s will that could not be revealed until this moment. You see, only
the painting of THE SON will actually be auctioned. It had been arranged
by THE FATHER that whoever bought the painting of THE SON would inherit his entire
estate, including all his priceless paintings. The man who takes THE SON…GETS EVERYTHING!”
What an awesome story!
OUR FATHER freely gave HIS OWN SON, approximately two millennia past, to
die on a cruel and rugged cross. Much like the auctioneer, HIS MESSAGE for all of us today
is: “THE SON, THE SON…WHO WILL TAKE THE SON?” Because whoever takes THE SON…GETS EVERYTHING! (John
10:10 – II Peter 1:3)
Stay tuned…more to come tomorrow.
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