The Lifeline
The Lifeline
In a little town near Cape Cod .. Church was getting underway..
The Choir had just been seated .. the young Pastor stood to say;
My sermon won’t be heard today.. I will deliver it next week..
Instead I have invited.. a dear friend of mine.. to speak..
I believe what he will tell you .. may change some lives today ..
So please give your attention.. to what he has to say ..
The Pastor motioned to a man.. seated near the aisle..
The gray haired man stood up and nodded with a friendly smile..
The stranger faced the congregation.. now seated in their pews..
He said GOD loves us all.. and I know .. This isn’t News !!
I’d like to tell you of a trio.. that went out sailing on a boat ..
A Father, and a Son .. and the son’s friend .. then he cleared his throat ..
The three were having lots of fun .. just a mile or two off land ..
When a sudden storm approached their boat.. totally unplanned..
The rains descended, lightning flashed across a blackened sky..
The three of them then noticed .. that the waves were rising high..
With devastating force.. the waves ..battered the small craft..
They were taking water on .. both at the fore.. and aft..
Soon the boat had capsized .. and all were pitched into the sea..
It happened with a suddenness .. the waters filled with the debris ..
Somehow they all surfaced.. struggling hard to stay afloat..
The father searching all around .. he was nearest to the boat..
A coiled up line then floated by .. the father grabbed it with his hand..
He knew his sons friend wasn’t saved .. and they were far away from land..
He saw his Son far to his left.. the other boy was to his right ..
I love you Son !.. then hurled the line to the friend .. with all his might ..
The father knew his son knew JESUS .. and if he perished here this way ..
He would spend eternity in heaven.. and he would see him there some day ..
The friend grasped quickly at the line.. he caught it and held tight..
The pair then clamored to the hull .. and held on through the night..
Eventually the storm subsided.. and the two of them were saved..
The tragedy in both their lives.. shaped how they both behaved..
The Son was lost that stormy day .. his body was not found…
The father and the boy both sorrowed.. their grief was unbound..
How could I know of what took place .. in this maritime disaster..??
You see I “am” the Father.. and that young boy .. is your own Pastor..
CC: Aug. 12, 2006
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” John 3:16-17
“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13
“Be ye strong therefore, and let not your hands be weak: for your work shall be rewarded.” 2 Chronicles 15:7
“But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.” Job 23:10
