THIS IS A STORY THAT YOU MUST READ.

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 . "

The father opened the package . It 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 . There was to be a great auction of his paintings .  Many influential people gathered, excited over seeing the great paintings and having an opportunity to purchase one for their collection .

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?"

There was silence .

Then a voice in the back of the room shouted, "We want to see the famous paintings . Skip this one . "

But the auctioneer persisted . "Will somebody bid for this painting . Who will start the bidding? $100, $200?"

Another voice angrily . "We didn't come to see this painting . We came to see the Van Goghs, the Rembrandts . Get on with the real bids!"

But still the auctioneer continued . "The son! The son! Who'll take 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 give $10 for the painting . " Being a poor man, it was all he could afford .

"We have $10, who will bid $20?"

"Give it to him for $10 . Let's see the masters . "

"$10 is the bid, won't someone bid $20?"

The crowd was becoming angry . They didn't want the picture of the son .

They wanted the more worthy investments for their collections .

The auctioneer pounded the gavel . "Going once, twice, SOLD for $10!"

A man sitting on the second row shouted, "Now let's get on with the collection!"

The auctioneer laid down his gavel . "I'm sorry, the auction is over . "

"What about the paintings?"

I am sorry .  When I was called to conduct this auction, I was told of a secret stipulation in the will .  I was not allowed to reveal that stipulation until this time . Only the painting of the son would be auctioned .  Whoever bought that painting would inherit the entire estate, including the paintings .

The man who took the son gets everything!"

God gave His son 2,000 years ago to die on the cross .  Much like the auctioneer, His message today is:

"The son, the son, who'll take the son?"

Because, you see, whoever takes the Son gets everything .

FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, WHO SO EVER BELIEVETH, SHALL HAVE ETERNAL LIFE . . .

NOW THAT'S LOVE.