“GOD’S WONDERFUL WAY”
By Dr. Hoyt W. Allen, Jr.
The following came my way and I considered it to be “right on” and worth reading. It has been slightly edited. Please take it seriously.
One Sunday evening the congregation enjoyed several old favorite hymns and communion. Then the minister of the congregation announced that he had a minister friend who was visiting with them and would like to extend an opportunity to him to share a few words before he preached.
Thus, an elderly minister stepped into the pulpit and began speaking for several minutes. What he said held the congregation’s attention.
He
began by saying, “A
father , his son,
and a friend of the
son were sailing
near the ocean’s
coast. All had gone
well until an
approaching storm
caused them to be
washed out to sea.
The waters were as
rough as the father,
who was an
experienced seaman,
had ever witnessed.
The
boat overturned and
the three were
thrown into the cold
turbulent waters.”
At this time -
the minister noticed
that three teenage
boys who were
sitting in the front
row were sitting
with their eyes
glued to him and
listening intently.
“The father was able to grab a rope which was floating along side the capsized boat in the rough waters. Then came decision time. He had the opportunity to throw the other end of the line to one of the boys and possibly would be able to pull him to the capsized boat and be able to save him.
The decision was a difficult one for the father, as to which boy to throw the rope. He knew that his son was a Christian and he also knew that the friend of his son was not saved. Thus, if his son died he would be able to go to be in the arms of Jesus (II Corinthians 5:8) and yet if his son’s friend died he would be lost for eternity. This was a tough decision for the father.
As the two boys bopped up and down in the furious water, the father threw the one end of the rope to his son’s friend. He
(Continued)
(Continued)
pulled the boy to him back to the capsized boat. His son disappeared into the raging waves that were several feet high. His body was never recovered”.
By this time the three boys were sitting on the edge of their pew anxiously waiting on the next words which were to come from the elderly ministers’ mouth.
The elderly minister continued. “The father in this story knew that his son would perish in the raging waters, but would step into eternity with Jesus. Thus, he sacrificed his son to save his son’s friend. How great is the love of God that he should do the same. God was willing to sacrifice His Son so that our sins could be forgiven and we could share in heaven with Him (Romans 5:8).
I would like all that hear this story to take hold of the lifeline that God has thrown out to all of us in this service and be saved from our sins.”
The elderly minister then turned and sat down in a chair. The local minister then went to the pulpit and preached his prepared sermon.
Within minutes after the service ended the three teenage boys approached the elderly minister and said, “That was a nice story, but we do not consider it to be very realistic for a father to give up his son’s life in hopes that the other boy would become a Christian.
The elder minister replied, “You have a good point there, as he glanced down at his old taped Bible. It really isn’t very realistic is it?
But I am standing here today to tell you that story gives me a glimpse of what it must have been when God gave up His Son, Jesus. In the story I told - I was that father and your minister here at the church was my son’s friend. Have you boys accepted Jesus as your personal Savior and made Him the Lord of your lives?”
Plainly, don’t get short changed. Let’s be ready to meet our Maker. The Bible teaches in the Book of Acts that to avoid hell and gain heaven - one must:
1)
Believe In Jesus As
Savior (16:31) 2)
Repent Of Sins
(17:30)
3) Confess Christ
Audibly (8:37) 4) Be
Baptized In Water
(2:38)
5) Live A Christian
Life (14:22) 6) Be
Active In Church
(2:47)
KYOWVA
Evangelistic
Association
1541 S. 7th Street *
Ironton, OH 45638
Web Page:
www.kyowva.com
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Upon Request