"The Anchor Holds"

Sunday Sermon

After a few of the usual Sunday evening hymns, the pastor introduced a guest minister, one of his dearest childhood friends who would have a few moments to greet and share something with the congregation prior to the normal sermon.
With that, an elderly man stepped up to the pulpit and began to speak. "A father, his son, and a friend of the son were sailing off the Pacific coast," he began, "when a fast approaching storm blocked any attempt to get back to shore. The waves were so high that, even though the father was an experienced sailor, he could not keep the boat upright. 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 the story. The aged minister continued, "Grabbing a rescue line, the father had to make the most excruciating decision of his life: to which boy he would 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 that the friend was not. The agony of his decision could not be matched even by the torrent of the waves.

"The father yelled out, 'I love you, son!' as he threw the line to the friend. By the time the father had pulled the boy back to the boat, his own 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 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 hold of that life line He is throwing out to you in this service tonight."

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 for anyone to some up and share their thoughts with the congregation. 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 started one of the boys, "but I don't think it was very realistic for a father to give up his only son' 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 and for you and for everyone else.

"You see...I was that father, and your pastor.....is my son's friend."



~Author Unknown~