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 this 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 somebody bid for this
painting. Who will start the bidding? $100, $200?"
Another voice 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 2,000 years ago to die on the 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.
For God so loved the world He gave his only begotten Son, who
so ever believeth, shall have eternal life...that's love
Blessings to all!
CJ
