Tuesday, June 3, 2008
4:27 PM

How can i stand here and not be moved by You?



i found this video on Godtube and doesnt it look familiar? (: (Hint: EM!) and i also found this beautiful story from my friend's blog (:

An elderly man was invited up on the pulpit to speak.

"Three people boarded a boat: a father, his son and the son's friend. They were sailing off the Pacific Coast," he began. "Then 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 off the boat and into the ocean."

The old man hesitated for a moment, making eye contact with two teenagers who looked somewhat interested in his story. He continued, "grabbing a rescue line, the father had to make the most excruciating decision of his life. Which boy should he throw the other end of the line to? He only had seconds to make the decision. The father knew that his son was a Christian, and he also knew that his son's friend definitely 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 the raging swells into the black of night. His body was never recovered."

By this time, the two teenagers were sitting straighter in the pew, waiting for 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. He could not bear the thought of his son's friend stepping into an eternity in hell. Therefore, he sacrificed his own 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.

After the service ended, the two teenagers were at the old man's side. "That was a nice story," politely started one of the boys, "but I don't think it was very realistic for the 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 worn Bible. A big smile broadened his narrow face and he once again looked up at the boys and said, "It sure isn't very realistic, is it? But I'm standing here today to tell you that story gives me a glimpse of what it must have been like for God to give up His son for me. You see... I was the son's friend to whom the father tossed a rescue line."

--

i was reminded of this passage from Colossians 1:15-23,

"He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or power or rulers or authorities; all things were created by Him and for Him. He is before all things and in Him all things hold together. And He is the head of the body, the church; He is the beginning and the first born from among the dead, so that in everything He might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all His fullnes dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through His blood, shed on the cross.

Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behaviour. But now He has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to prevent you holy in His sight, without blemish and free from accusation - if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel."

Perhaps take some time today to thank God for His grace on our lives. despite the things that we are struggling with, despite the sins that we have committed, know that the Lord is merciful and that He has saved us through His death on the cross. i really liked the bit where the girl in the clip was struggling to get back to God, and in the end God jumped in to save her from all the addictions and sins of the world. If we choose to honour God today, God will honour us.

kristi (:



::::