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.
Author Unknown to me
Received from the internet, Thanks to
each one who sent a copy.
FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD HE GAVE
HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, THAT WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH IN HIM
SHOULD NOT PERISH BUT HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE. John 3:16
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