A Touching Story...

I was very moved as I was reading this passage in a book I'm reading (Leap of Faith by Ellie Lofaro)

"The pastor was getting ready to begin the service, the elders were seated and the teenagers were giggling and passing notes--especially two boys seated in the small balcony. Seemingly ignoring their antics, the pastor announced he had a special pulpit guest with him that night--a man he had known for many years. An elderly man left his seat on the front row and made his way to the pulpit. The old man began his sermon by telling a story about a father, his fifteen-year-old son, and his son's friend who went sailing together one evening off the northern California coast. The father was a pastor and also a proficient sailor. However, that night's horrendous storm would soon put his maritime skills to the ultimate test in more ways than one. Afer he bailed water out of the hull for over 2 hours during the violent rain, the sailboat finally capsized. All three tumbled into the darkness of the raging sea. The father was closest to the overturned sailboat and struggled to secure a lifeline to a buoy. Straining to see the 2 boys during the brief flashes of lightning, he was horrified to realize that the 2 boys were succumbing to the unrelenting waves, but they were too far apart to reach both with the one lifeline. As the fierce waves tossed their fragile bodies about, the father faced a terrible dilemma. He knew that his son was a christian, and that if he died that night, he would immediately be in the presence of Jesus. Yet his son's best friend did not have the same hope. Not only did the boy not believe--he was quite verbal about his hatred and repulsion by all things religious. The father could not bear for that boy to face eternity apart from Jesus. So the moment the lightning lit the sky, with his body shaking and his heart breaking, the father looked in his son's direction and screamed out, "I love you, Son! I love you!" He then threw the lifeline out to his son's friend. By this time, the congregation was rivet to the old man's story, including the 2 teens in the back. The man concluded his message by drawing a parallel between the story and God's sacrificial love for us that permitted His Son to die so that we could live. "God has thrown us a lifeline. He allowed his sweet Son to die so that we could live." It was a powerful moment and the congregation was deeply moved. After the service, the 2 boys quickly walked to the front pew and approached the old man. "That's a really good story, mister, but it's not very realistic. The man didn't even know if his son's friend was ever going to become a Christian." To which the old gentleman replied, "You're right--it's not very logical or realistic. Again, what an amazing illustration of God's love for us. But is is a true story. In fact, it's my story. You see, I was that father, and your pastor was my son's friend."

This story really touched my heart and brought me to tears. God demonstrates his love for us while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. There is a costly lifeline of love that has been tossed out to us. I can't help but cry because I've come to the realization that God is so Holy and I am so undeserving of his love and his grace. I can't help but fall on my knees and be grateful. There are sweet times like these that I cherish...I step back and reflect on God's goodness. The bible says our righteousness are as filthy rags in God's sight. Lord forgive me of my sins. Help me to pursue the very character of you in my everyday life. When we realize that we could never measure up to a holy God's standards on our own, we're on our way to healing.