"Who Will Take The Son?"

A wealthy man and his son loved to collect rare works of art. They had a large collection- everything from Picasso to Raphael. They would often sit together and admire the great masterpieces.

A War broke out, the son went to the 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 there 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 for. 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. In our conversation together, he often talked about you, and your love for art." The young man held out the 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 true personality of his son in the painting. The father was so moved and drawn to the eyes of his son 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 the mantel. Every time visitors came to his home, he first showed them the portrait of his son before he shows them the other great works he had collected.

A few months later, the man died. There was to be a great auction of his paintings. Many influential people gathered, excited over seeing the magnificent works and having the opportunity to purchase one for their collection.

On the platform stood the easel with the painting of the son. The auctioneer pounded his gavel. “We will start the bidding with this picture titled,'The Son'. Who will bid for this one?" There was silence. Then a voice in the back of the room shouted, "We want to see the famous paintings first. Skip this one."

But the auctioneer persisted. "Is there someone who will bid for this painting? Who will start bidding? One hundred dollars? Two hundred dollars?"

From the back another voice shouted angrily, "We didn't come to see an unknown artist's work. We came to see the Van Goghs, the Rembrandts-works of the master. Get on with the real bids!"

But still the auctioneer continued. "'The Son' 'The Son' who will take ' The Son'?" Finally a raspy voice came from the back of the room. It was the aged, long time gardener of the man and his son. "I'll give ten dollars for the painting." Being a poor man, it was all he could afford.

"We have ten dollars. Who will bid twenty dollars?" asked the auctioneer.

"Give it to him for ten dollars," someone shouted.
"Let's go on and see the paintings of the masters."

"Ten dollars is the bid. Won't someone bid twenty dollars?" the auctioneer persisted.

The crowd was becoming restless and angry. They didn't want the picture of the son. They wanted a more worthy and important investment for their collection.

The auctioneer pounded the gavel." Going once, twice, sold for ten dollars!"

A man sitting on the second row shouted," Now let's get on with the collection!"

But the auctioneer laid own his gavel." I'm sorry. The auction is over," he said.

"What about the paintings?" someone shouted from the crowd.

"I'm sorry, but when I was called to conduct this auction, I was told of a secret stipulation in the will. And I was not allowed to reveal that stipulation until now. 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!"

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God gave His son 2,000 years ago to die on a cruel cross.
Much like the acutioneer, His message today is
"The Son! The Son! Who will take the Son?"
Whoever takes the Son inherits everything.

John 3:16-18

16For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
18Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.

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The above was from a book I am currently reading.
"FAITH THAT PLEASE GOD"
by Bob George.

I find that this passage was interesting so
thought might as well posted on the blog.
Its quite a interesting book.
Anyway now the question is,
have you accepted 'The Son'?
If not, what are you waiting for?