There was a time when trains crossed narrow rivers by using a bridge that rotated over a tower in the middle of the channel. The bridge had an operator whose job was to rotate the bridge in line with the river when ships needed to pass and would then rotate the bridge toward shore for the passing of a train.
One day the bridge operator decided to take his small son with him to work so he could show him what daddy did for his work. As a passenger train approached the bridge the man as always pulled the lever to swing the bridge to shore so the train could pass. As the train came hurtling down the track the man in horror saw that the automatic locking of the tracks together had not occurred. The tracks were not aligned! Thinking quickly the man bolted out of the control room door and ran down the bridge toward shore to manually lock the tracks in place. All this as the train bore down on the bridge.
As the man reached the halfway point to the end of the bridge he heard a voice that ran through his veins like ice water. It was the sound of his young son’s voice. His son had followed him onto the track and had shouted proudly to his father, “Daddy, I can help!”
The options raced through the father’s mind. If I continue to run down the bridge I can lock in the tracks and save all the people on the train but my son will die. If I turn to rescue my son all the people on the train will die. He made the decision in what seemed like an eternity but was actually only a heartbeat.
The train barreled down the tracks and across the bridge. All on the train were saved. But to save all those people a terrible price had been paid. That was the life of the son.
As news quickly spread to shore as to what had happened one of the man’s close friends ran to the bridge and found the man sitting alone sobbing with his head in his hands. His friend quietly sat down and held the man close. After minutes of silence between the two the friend asked “What are you thinking?”
The man responded “How am I going to explain to my wife the decision I made today? Will she be able to understand?”
So there’s the question. Do we truly understand the sacrifice that God made? He gave His Son so that all could live.
2006-10-11 18:32:47 · 16 answers · asked by yagman 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Leo B
The reason I directed the questions to Christians is simply because I was asking a question of Christians as to whether they understand what God had done for them through Christ. Since the issue was about the Sacrifice of Christ those who do not believe in my Savior could not understand the meaning of the sacrifice of Christ. I hope and pray that some day you can be counted among those who do understand Christ's sacrifice. May God open heart to His will in your life.
2006-10-11 18:47:08 · update #1
Leo B
I see you have removed your response. I wish the best for you and yours.
2006-10-11 18:50:42 · update #2
I understand His sacrifice, and I bow my knee in awe of Him everyday, and lift my hands in praise of Him everyday, because of His love, mercy and grace.
Beautifully told story, by the way.
2006-10-11 18:45:03 · answer #1 · answered by simone 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If Christ is god, how is that giving the people his only son? Plus he was resurrected after 3 days and went to heaven to be with god. So god could not stand being away from his son for more than 3 days. In your story the man has to live the rest of his life without his son. And if god is omnipotent, he can be everywhere and see his son at all times regardless of where he is. So perhaps the sacrifice is not that impressive. And if god did not create an imperfect world to begin with he would not have had to give his only son. Which brings me to the topic of omniscience, if god knows all, then he probably knew (billions of years before he created the world) what was going to happen. Why didn't he take the proper precautions to avoid it? According to the bible, god was am angry and jealous god inflicting his people with fear, but then he gave his only son, is he bi polar or something?
2006-10-12 11:14:06 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
As much as I would like to be like God, now that I'm a parent I can't say that I would make that same choice. I always believed in Jesus and accepted Him as a child but until I became a parent I could not possibly fully understand the true meaning of that sacrifice. Thank you for the story.
2006-10-12 01:47:43 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Yes. true Christians who are "saved" by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit DO understand.
The thing that blows me away is, that one life (Jesus)saved not just those people but, ALL people from Adam to the last human being ever to be conceived. The reward is offered to ALL people...even those who choose not to accept it or believe.
For THAT.....I am eternally grateful to God.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT:
If all the miracles and wonders could be explained away...God wouldn't be God...would He?
2006-10-12 01:42:11 · answer #4 · answered by ? 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Good Job.
A good example to those who don't understand the meaning of sacrifice made by Jesus Christ.
2006-10-12 03:25:25 · answer #5 · answered by Jac Tms 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
He is my king and my savior, he died for the men who would follow him into battle. The great king of heaven and earth, with the most elite and well trained fighting force in the universe, died on the cross, the most horrible death for us, whose thoughts are evil from birth. do i understand the sacrifice my king made, follow me and i won't tell you my brother, I WILL SHOW YOU. With one word we would have risen from the dust and utterly destroyed the greatest empire of the time with only a hand full of men. But he chose to die, he willingly died, a king, our commander whom we loved greater than our own life, it is my honor to serve under such a great king, a great leader and an example to any whom wish to lead, the greatest shall be servant to all.
2006-10-12 01:52:10 · answer #6 · answered by Eloy B 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I understand fully well and am not ashamed to stand counted among those who do understand. As one who has accepted Christ as my Savior, my Lord, my friend, my confidante, the Lover of my Soul, I am unworthy to have any such relationships with him, but he makes me worthy by the indwelling of His Spirit within me and in that I sing and shout and lift my hands heavenward in praise and worship for an Abba who would make such a choice that a wretched woman, such as I, would have the freedom to serve a God, such as He is. Thank you for letting me share how joyful I find my Savior.
2006-10-12 01:41:02 · answer #7 · answered by dph_40 6 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Yagaman,
I truly understand Jesus sent his only begotten son to die for mankind sinful ways. The greatest thing about is Jesus trusted his Father to bring him back to life and that's what I am doing now! I trust God!
Shalom
2006-10-12 01:41:33 · answer #8 · answered by Pashur 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
So there’s the question. Do we truly understand the sacrifice that God made? He gave His Son so that all could live.
Yes.
2006-10-12 01:35:00 · answer #9 · answered by whynotaskdon 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Thank you for the message, put into a story so easy to understand. I pray for all that will now post messages as if God will not see their hearts.
God Bless !
2006-10-12 01:40:28 · answer #10 · answered by bugged 2 · 4⤊ 0⤋