This morning's sermon is still fresh on my mind. In it was a great story. Here it goes. A father and his son love the fine arts and with the money the father amassed, he bought many art works of famous artists around the world so that he could enjoy with his son. This man was very rich to be able to afford these great works of art. Each evening the father and son would sit down and bring out the art works and admire the work of those great painters. Before the long, the son was drafted into the Vietnam war. You would have guessed that the son didn't make it and died saving many lives. Well the story continues to go on. The old man was heart broken and left alone because his son was the only treasure he had. He was gone.
One day a young man knocked on the door. He told the old man how he was so grateful to his son for saving his life. The old man's son was shot in the chest while trying to bring him to safety. Before he left, he gave the old man a painting. One in which he drew of the old man's son during those free hours while fighting vietcongs. The old man removed the main art work from the mantle and hung this painting of his son. The old man stared into the eyes of the portrait of his son. He could almost see his son. Each night he would sit and stare at the painting. A few months later, the old man died. Soon an auction was held to sell his paintings. The first painting to be sold that day by the auctioneer was the painting of the SON. The auctioneer shouted :Who will take the SON?" The impatient buyers shouted at the auctioneer to hasten him to sell the great works of art. But the auctioneer went on "Who will take the son for $100. Did I hear $100 once? Did I hear higher." But the noise in the room was getting louder. They were voices asking for the great works to be sold. Suddenly a hand shot from the back of the room. It was the old man's gardener. Togethe with his young son, he bid "$10". The auctioneer shouted "$10 once, any one higher than $10? $10 going once, $10 going twice, $10 going three times. Slam!! Sold!" The impatient buyers appluaded the sale because the moment they were waiting for had come. The actual sale would begin.
The auctioneer turned his back from the buyers and walked down the stage. Every buyer in the room froze. Then voices of protest could be heard. The auctioneer went up the stage again and spoke. "I am instructed to sell that one piece. Anyone who buys the SON, will inherit all the rest of the paintings and the entire estate. "
This is the meaning of salvation rich and free. Our salvation is even better. It is free, we don't need to do anything to deserve it. Such is the love of our God.
I left the church overwhelmed by God's love for us. Very undeserving of us but He gave. I also thought about the wealth I have in heaven and on earth as His child. What can I do with this riches? Keep it or share it? Tell it or hide it. A lot on my mind today.
