Winsome Wisdom - The Art of Faith by Steve Chappell

Allow me to share a story passed along to me by a good friend and Citadel classmate, Rowe Moody. With the celebration of Easter just behind us, I think you will find it inspiring:

A wealthy man and his son loved to collect rare works of art. They had everything in their collection, from Picasso to Raphael. They would often sit together and admire the great works of art. When the Vietnam conflict broke out, the son went to war. He was very courageous and died in battle while rescuing another soldier. The father was notified and grieved deeply for his only son.

About a month later, just before Christmas, there was a knock at the door. A young man stood at the door with a large package in his hands. He said, "Sir, you don't know me, but I am the soldier for whom your son gave his life. He saved many lives that day, and he was carrying me to safety when a bullet struck him in the heart and he died instantly... He often talked about you, and your love for art."

The young man held out this package. "I know this isn't much. I'm not really a great artist, but I think your son would have wanted you to have this."

In the package was a portrait of his son, painted by the young man. He stared in awe at the way the soldier had captured the personality of his son in the painting. The father was so drawn to the eyes that his own eyes welled up with tears. He thanked the young man and offered to pay him for the picture. "Oh, no sir, I could never repay what your son did for me. It's a gift."

The father hung the portrait over his mantle. Every time visitors came to his home he took them to see the portrait of his son before he showed them any of the other great works he had collected.

The man died a few months later and a grand auction of his paintings was scheduled. Many wealthy, influential people gathered, excited over seeing the works of the great masters and having an opportunity to purchase one for their collection. First on the platform sat the painting of the son. The auctioneer pounded his gavel. "We will start the bidding with this picture of the son. Who will bid for this picture?"

 Silence...

 Then a voice in the back of the room shouted, "We want to see the famous paintings. Move on!"

But the auctioneer persisted. "Will somebody bid for this painting? Who will start the bidding at $100?"Another voice angrily called out. "We didn't come to see this painting. We came to see the Van Goghs, the Rembrandts. Get on with the real art!" But still the auctioneer continued. 'It’s the man’s only son! Surely it’s worth something. Who'll offer a bid on the son?" 

Finally, a voice came from the very back of the room. It was the longtime gardener of the man and his son. "I'll bid $10 for the painting." Being a poor man, it was all he could afford.

 "Give it to him for $10. We want to see masterpieces!" shouted the impatient crowd.

"Very well... going once... twice, SOLD for $10!"The auctioneer pounded the gavel. A man sitting on the second row shouted, "Now can we get on with the real art collection?"

The auctioneer laid down his gavel. "Sorry, folks, the auction is over!" The crowd was stunned. "What about all the valuable paintings?"

The auctioneer calmly responded, "Ladies and gentlemen, when I was called to conduct this auction, I was told of an important stipulation in the will... I was not allowed to reveal that stipulation until this time. The stipulation is this: only the painting of the son would be auctioned. Whoever bought that painting would inherit the entire estate, including all the paintings."

So the family gardener who chose the son got everything! Sound familiar?
 
"For God so loved the world, he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in Him, shall have eternal life"