He sacrificed his son to save the son's friend

AFTER A FEW OF THE USUAL SUNDAY EVENING HYMNS,  THE CHURCH'S PASTOR SLOWLY STOOD UP, WALKED OVER TO THE PULPIT AND, BEFORE HE GAVE HIS SERMON FOR THE EVENING,  HE BRIEFLY INTRODUCED A GUEST MINISTER WHO WAS IN THE SERVICE THAT EVENING.

IN THE INTRODUCTION, THE PASTOR TOLD THE   CONGREGATION  THAT THE GUEST MINISTER WAS  ONE OF HIS DEAREST CHILDHOOD FRIENDS AND THAT HE WANTED HIM TO HAVE A FEW MOMENTS TO GREET THE CHURCH AND SHARE WHATEVER  HE FELT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE FOR THE SERVICE.

WITH THAT, AN ELDERLY MAN STEPPED UP TO THE  PULPIT  AND BEGAN 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 THE 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 AS THE BOAT CAPSIZED."

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.

THE AGED MINISTER CONTINUED WITH HIS STORY,   "GRABBING A RESCUE LINE, THE FATHER HAD TO MAKE THE MOST  EXCRUCIATING DECISION OF HIS LIFE: TO WHICH BOY WOULD HE THROW THE OTHER END OF THE LIFE 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 OUT THE LIFE LINE TO HIS SON'S FRIEND.  BY THE TIME THE FATHER HAD PULLED THE FRIEND BACK  TO THE CAPSIZED BOAT, HIS SON HAD DISAPPEARED BENEATH THE RAGING SWELLS INTO THE BLACK OF NIGHT. HIS BODY WAS NEVER RECOVERED.

 BY THIS TIME, THE TWO TEENAGERS WERE SITTING UP  STRAIGHT  IN  THE PEW, ANXIOUSLY WAITING FOR THE NEXT WORDS TO COME OUT OF THE OLD MINISTER'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 TO SAVE THE SON'S FRIEND. "

HOW GREAT IS THE LOVE OF GOD THAT HE SHOULD DO THE  SAME FOR US.  OUR HEAVENLY FATHER SACRIFICED HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN  SON THAT WE COULD BE SAVED.  I URGE YOU TO ACCEPT HIS OFFER TO RESCUE YOU AND TAKE A HOLD OF THE  LIFE LINE HE IS THROWING OUT TO YOU IN THIS SERVICE."  WITH THAT, THE OLD MAN TURNED AND SAT BACK DOWN IN  HIS  CHAIR AS SILENCE FILLED THE ROOM.

THE PASTOR AGAIN WALKED SLOWLY TO THE PULPIT AND  DELIVERED A BRIEF SERMON WITH AN INVITATION AT  THE  END. HOWEVER, NO ONE RESPONDED TO THE APPEAL.   

WITHIN MINUTES AFTER THE SERVICE ENDED, THE TWO TEENAGERS  WERE AT THE OLD MAN'S SIDE.  "THAT WAS A NICE STORY,"  POLITELY STATED ONE OF  THEM, "BUT I DON'T THINK IT WAS VERY REALISTIC FOR A  FATHER TO GIVE UP HIS ONLY 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. 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 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 THAT FATHER AND YOUR PASTOR IS MY SON'S FRIEND."