Story - The Son
Story - The Son
A wealthy man and his son loved to collect rare works of art. They had everything in their collection from Picasso to Raphael. They would often sit together and admire the great works of art.
When the Vietnam conflict broke out, the son went to war. He was very courageous and died in battle while rescuing another soldier. The father was notified and grieved deeply for his only son.
About a month later, just before Christmas, there was a knock at the door. A young man stood at the door with 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, and he died instantly. He often talked about you, and your love for art.” The young man held out his package. “I know this isn't much. I'm not really a great artist, but I think your son would have wanted you to have this.”
The father opened the package. It was a portrait of his son, painted by the young man. He stared in awe at the way the soldier had captured the personality of his son in the painting. The father was so drawn to the eyes that his own eyes welled up with tears. He thanked the young man and offered to pay him for the picture. “Oh, no sir, I could never repay what your son did for me. It's a gift.”
The father hung the portrait over his mantle. Every time visitors came to his home, he took them to see the portrait of his son before he showed them any of the other great works he had collected.
The man died a few months later. There was to be a great auction of his paintings. Many influential people gathered, excited over seeing the great paintings and having an opportunity to purchase one for their collection. On the platform sat the painting of the son. The auctioneer pounded his gavel. “We will start the bidding with this picture of the son. Who will bid for this picture?” There was silence. Then a voice in the back of the room shouted, “We want to see the famous paintings. Skip this one.” But the auctioneer persisted. “Will someone bid for this painting? Who will start the bidding? $100, $200?” Another voice shouted angrily, “We didn't come to see this painting. We came to see the Van Goghs, the Rembrandts. Get on with the real bids!” But still the auctioneer continued, “The son! The son! Who'll take the son?”
Finally, a voice came from the very back of the room. It was the longtime gardener of the man and his son. “I'll give $10 for the painting.” Being a poor man, it was all he could afford. “We have $10, who will bid $20?” “Give it to him for $10. Let's see the masters.” “$10 is the bid, won't someone bid $20?” The crowd was becoming angry. They didn't want the picture of the son. They wanted the more worthy investments for their collections. The auctioneer pounded the gavel. “Going once, twice, SOLD FOR $10!”
A man sitting on the second row shouted, “Now, let's get on with the collection!” The auctioneer laid down his gavel. “I'm sorry, the auction is over.” “What about the paintings?” “I am sorry. When I was called to conduct this auction, I was told of a secret stipulation in the will. I was not allowed to reveal that stipulation until this time. Only the painting of the son would be auctioned. Whoever bought that painting would inherit the entire estate, including the paintings. The man who took the son gets everything!”
God gave his Son 2000 years ago to die on a cruel cross. Much like the auctioneer, His message today is, “The Son, the Son, who'll take the Son?” Because you see, whoever takes the Son gets everything.
+++
How true as story we have before us today. To take the Son is to have all the blessings of God. So often we are like those who sat waiting for the auction to begin. They look at all the beautiful works of art and they want only the good stuff while smirking at what seems so common.
In our lives the greatest blessings we have are the things usually deemed common. To have a place to live and food to eat is a blessing from God. To have a family who loves you and wants you is a blessing beyond compare, but too many take such a blessing for granted and even see it as common.
I believe as we get older it is the common everyday things which begin to rise to the top and which begin to be seen for the value they are. As family and friends slip away and we find ourselves ever more alone, we look back and wish we had valued what we had to a greater degree.
But in faith we also know that losing is also gaining. For those who have left us, who had placed their hope in the Son, they have gained all that God promises in His kingdom. For those who are still with us in this life, there is nothing greater we could give to them than clarity of who Jesus is and what the Father desires to give everyone through Him! “What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?” is a question Jesus asked. What would you give for a do over in your life, at least in some areas? What would you change? Who would you speak too or reach out too?
If you are still living and breathing in this life, it is not too late! We can’t change the past but we can live differently in the future. We all have those family members and friends who are still focused on the things of this world and who have lost sight of what it means to have “the Son.” You may be the one person God is waiting on to reach out to them with His love. Imagine the joy of knowing that a person you love will gain the kingdom of God because you shared His love with them?
May we all take stock in the blessings we have received and let the common outweigh the trappings of the world. May we truly begin to value what is most importing!
To God Be The Glory!
Pastor Russ
A wealthy man and his son loved to collect rare works of art. They had everything in their collection from Picasso to Raphael. They would often sit together and admire the great works of art.
When the Vietnam conflict broke out, the son went to war. He was very courageous and died in battle while rescuing another soldier. The father was notified and grieved deeply for his only son.
About a month later, just before Christmas, there was a knock at the door. A young man stood at the door with 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, and he died instantly. He often talked about you, and your love for art.” The young man held out his package. “I know this isn't much. I'm not really a great artist, but I think your son would have wanted you to have this.”
The father opened the package. It was a portrait of his son, painted by the young man. He stared in awe at the way the soldier had captured the personality of his son in the painting. The father was so drawn to the eyes that his own eyes welled up with tears. He thanked the young man and offered to pay him for the picture. “Oh, no sir, I could never repay what your son did for me. It's a gift.”
The father hung the portrait over his mantle. Every time visitors came to his home, he took them to see the portrait of his son before he showed them any of the other great works he had collected.
The man died a few months later. There was to be a great auction of his paintings. Many influential people gathered, excited over seeing the great paintings and having an opportunity to purchase one for their collection. On the platform sat the painting of the son. The auctioneer pounded his gavel. “We will start the bidding with this picture of the son. Who will bid for this picture?” There was silence. Then a voice in the back of the room shouted, “We want to see the famous paintings. Skip this one.” But the auctioneer persisted. “Will someone bid for this painting? Who will start the bidding? $100, $200?” Another voice shouted angrily, “We didn't come to see this painting. We came to see the Van Goghs, the Rembrandts. Get on with the real bids!” But still the auctioneer continued, “The son! The son! Who'll take the son?”
Finally, a voice came from the very back of the room. It was the longtime gardener of the man and his son. “I'll give $10 for the painting.” Being a poor man, it was all he could afford. “We have $10, who will bid $20?” “Give it to him for $10. Let's see the masters.” “$10 is the bid, won't someone bid $20?” The crowd was becoming angry. They didn't want the picture of the son. They wanted the more worthy investments for their collections. The auctioneer pounded the gavel. “Going once, twice, SOLD FOR $10!”
A man sitting on the second row shouted, “Now, let's get on with the collection!” The auctioneer laid down his gavel. “I'm sorry, the auction is over.” “What about the paintings?” “I am sorry. When I was called to conduct this auction, I was told of a secret stipulation in the will. I was not allowed to reveal that stipulation until this time. Only the painting of the son would be auctioned. Whoever bought that painting would inherit the entire estate, including the paintings. The man who took the son gets everything!”
God gave his Son 2000 years ago to die on a cruel cross. Much like the auctioneer, His message today is, “The Son, the Son, who'll take the Son?” Because you see, whoever takes the Son gets everything.
+++
How true as story we have before us today. To take the Son is to have all the blessings of God. So often we are like those who sat waiting for the auction to begin. They look at all the beautiful works of art and they want only the good stuff while smirking at what seems so common.
In our lives the greatest blessings we have are the things usually deemed common. To have a place to live and food to eat is a blessing from God. To have a family who loves you and wants you is a blessing beyond compare, but too many take such a blessing for granted and even see it as common.
I believe as we get older it is the common everyday things which begin to rise to the top and which begin to be seen for the value they are. As family and friends slip away and we find ourselves ever more alone, we look back and wish we had valued what we had to a greater degree.
But in faith we also know that losing is also gaining. For those who have left us, who had placed their hope in the Son, they have gained all that God promises in His kingdom. For those who are still with us in this life, there is nothing greater we could give to them than clarity of who Jesus is and what the Father desires to give everyone through Him! “What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?” is a question Jesus asked. What would you give for a do over in your life, at least in some areas? What would you change? Who would you speak too or reach out too?
If you are still living and breathing in this life, it is not too late! We can’t change the past but we can live differently in the future. We all have those family members and friends who are still focused on the things of this world and who have lost sight of what it means to have “the Son.” You may be the one person God is waiting on to reach out to them with His love. Imagine the joy of knowing that a person you love will gain the kingdom of God because you shared His love with them?
May we all take stock in the blessings we have received and let the common outweigh the trappings of the world. May we truly begin to value what is most importing!
To God Be The Glory!
Pastor Russ
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