HE CHOSE TO SAVE YOU.

WHEN THE PASTOR INTRODUCED THE VISITING SPEAKER, AN ELDERLY PREACHER WALKED TO THE PULPIT AND TOLD THIS STORY: 'A FATHER, HIS SON, AND HIS SON'S FRIEND WERE SAILING OFF THE PACIFIC COAST WHEN A STORM OVERTURNED THEIR BOAT SWEEPING ALL OF THEM INTO THE OCEAN. GRABBING A RESCUE LINE, IN A SPLIT SECOND THE FATHER HAD TO MAKE THE MOST EXCRUCIATING DECISION OF HIS LIFE- WHICH BOY TO THROW THE OTHER END TO AND WHICH ONE TO SACRIFICE. HE KNEW HIS SON ACCEPTED CHRIST AND HIS FRIEND HADN'T. ANGUISHED, THE FATHER YELLED, ''I LOVE YOU SON,'' AND THREW THE ROPE TO HIS SON'S FRIEND. BY THE TIME HE'D PULLED THE BOY BACK TO THE CAPSIZED BOAT HIS SON HAD DISAPPEARED BENEATH THE WAVES. HIS BODY WAS NEVER RECOVERED. THE FATHER KNEW HIS SON WOULD STEP INTO ETERNITY WITH JESUS AND COULDN'T BEAR THE THOUGHT OF HIS FRIEND FACING ETERNITY WITHOUT CHRIST. AT THE END OF THE SERVICE A TEENAGE BOY APPROACHED THE OLD MAN AND SAID, ''THAT'S A NICE STORY, BUT WHAT FATHER IN HIS RIGHT MIND WOULD SACRIFICE HIS SON'S LIFE IN HOPES THAT THE OTHER BOY WOULD BECOME A CHRISTIAN?'' ''YOU'VE GOT THE POINT,'' THE OLD PREACHER REPLIED, ''IT'S NOT REALISTIC. BUT AM STANDING HERE TODAY TO TELL YOU THAT STORY GIVES ME A GLIMPSE INTO WHAT IT MUST HAVE BEEN LIKE FOR GOD TO SACRIFICE HIS ONLY SON FOR US. YOU SEE...I WAS THAT FATHER, AND YOUR PASTOR IS MY SON'S FRIEND.'' THE PHARISEES WHO WATCHED CHRIST DIED SAID, ''HE SAVED OTHERS; HIMSELF HE CANNOT SAVE.'' AND THEY WERE RIGHT; HE COULDN'T DO BOTH, SO HE CHOSE TO SAVE YOU. TODAY WILL YOU ACCEPT HIS OFFER OF SALVATION?.........PLEASE READ: ROMANS 5:6-10.