Take my Son...

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 Gogh's, 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.'

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 over 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...Now THAT'S LOVE.

I asked the Lord how much he loved me, 

“He said this much, and stretched out his hands 

and they nailed Him to a cross”.