A rich man and his son loved collecting rare works of art. They had everything in their collection from Picasso to Rembrandt. Often they would sit together and admire the great works of art. When Desert Storm broke out, the son went off to war. He was courageous and died in battle while he was rescuing another soldier.
The father was notified and grieved deeply for his only son. A few months after his son was buried, there was a knock at the door. A young man stood at the door with a large package in his arms. He said, “Sir, you don’t know me, but I am the soldier your son saved while giving his life. He was carrying me to safety when the bullet struck him in the heart and he died instantly. He often spoke of you and your love for art.” The young man held out the package. “I know this is not much and I am not a great artist, but I think your son would have wanted you to have this.”
The father unwrapped the package. It was a portrait of his son, painted by the young man. The father saw how the soldier had captured the personality of his son in the painting and stared in awe. The father began to cry. He thanked the young man and offered to pay for the painting but the young soldier insisted on giving it to the father as a gift.
The father hung the portrait over his mantle. Every time people came to his home to visit, he would insist they look at the portrait of his son before he showed them any of the other great works he had collected. The man died about a year after he got the painting of his son.
There was going to be a great auction of the father’s painting collection. Many influential people gathered, excited over seeing the painting collection and having an opportunity to purchase one for their own collections.
On the main platform sat the painting of the son. The auctioneer pounded his gavel to start the bidding. “Who will bid for this picture?” There was silence. A voice from the back shouted, “We want to see the famous stuff. Skip this one.” The auctioneer persisted. “Who will start the bidding with $100 for this painting?” Another voice shouted, “We came for the Picasso! Get on with the real bids!” Still the auctioneer continued. “Who will take the son?”
Finally, a voice came from the corner of the room. It was the old longtime gardener of the father and his son. “I will give $20. It is all I can afford.” The auctioneer continued, “We have $20, who will bid $40?” The crowd was getting angry. “Give it to him and show us the masters!”
The auctioneer pounded his gavel. “Going once, twice, sold for $20!” The auctioneer announced that the auction was now concluded. “I am sorry. When I was called to conduct this auction, I was informed of a secret stipulation in the will. I could not reveal the secret until now. Whoever bought that painting would inherit the entire estate. The person who would take the son gets everything.
Much like the auctioneer, Gods message is to accept the Son and inherit everything!
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