The Son, The Son

The other day, a friend kindly sent this story to me to share with
others, and who better than to share it with you today! I felt I had to
pass it on, because this story helps us to understand and underpins
what we really do possess in Christ.

Many people know what to do, but so often don't do what they know!

The world we live in, doesn't give us a second chance to make a first
impression about Jesus! We only have to make one mis-representation to
them, and bang! The opportunity in most cases is over! I suppose a lot
of people in the church have taken that attitude on board, because we
tend to shoot our wounded!

So let this story give a little extra insight into standing up for
Jesus.

The son, 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 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 and 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 every thing!

God gave His son 2,000 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.

Author unknown. Please send this to ten people you know,
Until next time . . .

Stand up for Jesus