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
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 abut you and your love for art." The young man held out his
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 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 someone bid for this painting? Who will start the bidding?
$100,200?"
Another voice shouted angrily. "We didn't come to see this painting. We
came to see the Van Goghs, the Rembrandts. Get on with the real paintings!
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 a cruel 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.
God Bless You All,
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