This is a bitter sweet story of a wealthy man and his son who both loved to collect rare and valuable 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 they had acquired. When the Vietnam conflict broke out, the son was called-up to fight. He was a very courageous and popular soldier, but died in battle while attempting to rescue another soldier.  The father was deeply distressed and grieved deeply for his only son.

 A month or two after the son’s death, just before Christmas, there was a knock at the door of the father’s home. On opening the door the father came face to face with a young man holding 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. I was one of many lives He saved on that day, and as he was carrying me to safety a bullet struck him in the heart and he died instantly. He often talked to me about you, and your deep love for art."

The young man gave him the large package. "I know this isn't much. I'm not really a great artist, but I believe your son would have wanted you to have this."

The father opened the package. It was a portrait of his son, painted by this young man. He was so thrilled to receive this portrait of his son and stared in awe at the way the soldier had captured the personality of his son so perfectly in his painting. The father was so drawn to the eyes that his own eyes welled up with tears. After composing himself the father 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. The portrait is a gift."

The father proudly hung the portrait over his fireplace in his lounge, and 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 art he had collected.

The father died a short time later. As he had no other family the instructions in his will were, that there was to be a great auction of his paintings. Many important and influential people gathered on the day of the auction, excited to see the great paintings on offer and to have an opportunity to purchase one for their collection.

 On the platform was displayed the painting of the son. The auctioneer pounded his gavel in order to start the auction. "We will start the bidding with this picture of the son. Who will open the bidding for this picture?" There was silence.

Then a voice in the back of the room shouted, "We came to see and bid for the famous paintings. Skip this one." But the auctioneer persisted. "Will someone bid for this painting? Who will start the bidding at $200?" No bids were offered.

 Another voice shouted angrily. "We didn't come to see this painting. We came to see the Van Goughs, the Rembrandts. Get on to 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 long time gardener and handyman of the father 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 asked the auctioneer?"

"Give it to him for $10 cried an impatient dealer, so we can start bidding for the masters."

"$10 is the bid” said the auctioneer, “won't someone bid $20?" The crowd was becoming angry. They obviously didn't want the picture of the son. They wanted the more worthy investments for their collections. The auctioneer pounded the gavel. "Going once, going twice, SOLD for $10!"

A man sitting on the second row shouted, "Now let's get on with the real collection!" The auctioneer laid down his gavel, stunning the now expectant crowd "I'm sorry,” he said, “but the auction is over."    "What about the great paintings they shouted in unison?"

"I am sorry announced the auctioneer, but when I was asked to conduct this auction, I was told of a secret stipulation in the will. I was not allowed to reveal that stipulation until this moment. Only the painting of the son would be auctioned. Whoever bought that painting would inherit the entire estate, including all the expensive paintings. The man who bought the son gets everything!"

 This story teaches a wonderful spiritual truth. 2,000 years ago, God loved mankind so much that He gave, His Son to die on Calvary’s 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 that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

 Valuable though the father’s paintings were, they were worthless when compared to the love the father had for his son. The love God has for mankind is priceless when compared to the awesome length God went to perfectly restore our relationship with Him for all eternity.