Once there was a rich man who had a son. The son was very much loved by the father. This son was very tender hearted and he would often walk through the town stopping to talk to people he met. He would often stop to talk to a poor beggar, and give him some money.
The beggar sketched portraits. While talking one day, the son told the beggar that his father loved art and had a huge art gallery full of beautiful paintings. The beggar liked the son and wanted to sketch the son's portrait for him to give to his Father. The son said yes, and the beggar gave him the sketch.
After awhile the son stopped coming by and the beggar wondered what had happened to him. One day he picked up his mat and supplies and decided to go to the father's mansion. There he saw the watchman and he asked about the son. The watchman said the son had died and then the father died. The beggar said, " Oh, I didn't know. " The watchman then said the father's huge art collection was to be auctioned off today. The beggar wondered if his sketch of the son would be in the collection? He decided he would clean up the best he could and go to the auction.
When he entered the mansion and saw the beautiful paintings he was amazed to see his humble sketch there in the middle of all the splendid works of art. The auction started with the auctioneer stating that it was the will of the Father that the sketch of the son was the first piece of art to be auctioned off. None of the people wanted the sketch and refused to bid on it. The beggar pulled out what coins he had and said "I will give all I have for the son. " He received the sketch. Then the people said, " Now, can we start the bidding for the real works of art?" The auctioneer said, " No, for the father's second stipulation was that whoever receives the son would also receive all of the art collection. "
This parable told by Dr. Ravi Zacharias illustrates God's will for us in that when we accept Jesus Christ, His son, we also become his children and joint heirs with Christ. (Galatians 3: 29 and Galatians 4: 7)
“ 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.
God Bless,
Linda Shields