If I Gave My Son

     There are many who feel that salvation through faith in Christ is too exclusive. They are right. Jesus himself said the way to heaven was a narrow path and that few would find it. This sets off the "fair meter" all humans are born with. But it seems more fair to me if I think of it in terms of the following parable. If:

     My son and I were walking on a lonely stretch of road and saw a house on fire. We could see through the windows that there were people inside but they did not seem aware of the danger they were in. The windows were barred from outside and the front door was already on fire. The only way of escape was the back door and the fire above it was already collapsing the door frame. My son was strong and brave, so he volunteered to stand in the doorway and support the burning beam to make a way of escape for those inside, risking his own life to save them. He called from the doorway, but only a few of the residents came out. I banged on the barred windows telling the people inside to run to the back door to safety. But they did not run. They did not even stroll. One argued that there was no fire, another said, if it became necessary, she would try to squeeze through the bars on the window. Several others were trying to put out the flames with hopelessly ineffective extinguishers. "Please", I told them, "my son is suffering in the doorway. He is dying to save you." But they answered, "We don't want your son to save us, offer us another way."
     Would I do that? Now I am not nearly as gracious or merciful as God, and my son is not pure and perfect like Jesus, but I am a parent and I know how much I love my son, and those who ignored his sacrifice would deserve their doom. God gave his Son, there is nothing He could offer to up the ante, even if He wanted to  It was grace that God provided any way. And it is grace that He has not provided many, leaving us to wonder if we are on the right path. It would seem fair to me that my only offer was my final offer, if I gave my son.