After a few of the usual Sunday evening hymns, the church's pastor slowly stood up, walked over to the pulpit, and gave a very brief introduction of the friend he had known since childhood. With that, an elderly man stepped up to the pulpit to speak, "A father, his son, and a friend of his son were sailing off the Pacific Coast," he began, "when a fast approaching storm blocked any attempt to get back to shore. The waves were so high, that even though the father was an experienced sailor, he could not keep the boat upright, and the three were swept into the ocean."

The old man hesitated for a moment, making eye contact with two teenagers who were, for the first time since the service began, looking somewhat interested in his story. He continued, "The father, being a good swimmer, was able to make it back on the boat. Grabbing a rescue line, he then had to make the most excruciating decision of his life ­ to which boy would he throw the other end of the line. He had only seconds to make the decision. The father knew that his son was a Christian, and he also knew that his son's friend was not. The agony of his decision could not be matched by the torrent of waves. As the father yelled out, "I love you, son!" he threw the line to his son's friend. By the time he pulled the friend back to the capsized boat, his son had disappeared beyond raging swells into the black of night. His body was never recovered."

By this time, the two teenagers were sitting straighter in the pew, awaiting the next words to come out of the old man's mouth. "The father," he continued, "knew his son would step into eternity with Jesus, and he could not bear the thought of his son's friend stepping into an eternity without Jesus. Therefore, he sacrificed his son. How great is the love of God that He should do the same for us." With that, the old man turned and sat back down in his chair as silence filled the room.

Within minutes after the service ended, the two teenagers were at the old man's side. "That was a nice story," one of the boys politely started, "but I don't think it was very realistic for a father to give up his son's life in hopes that the other boy would become a Christian." "Well, you've got a point there," the old man replied, glancing down at his well-worn Bible. A big smile broadened his narrow face, and he once again looked up at the boys and said, "It doesn't sound very realistic, does it? But I'm standing here today to tell you that that story gives me a glimpse of what it must have been like for God to give up His Son for me." He paused for a moment, and then continued, "And you see, I was that father and your pastor is my son's friend."

Unknown author