When the art collector died, his paintings were put up for auction according to his will and to everyone's surprise the auction began with this simple sketch of the man's son.

"Who will open the bidding with $50?" the auctioneer asked and nothing was offered. Someone suggested that they move on to the more expensive items. The auctioneer said, "No! We have to sell this one first."

Eventually a friend of the old man - not a collector and not very rich - offered a small sum saying "I knew the boy and I'd like to have it."

"Will anyone go higher?" called the auctioneer. There was silence and so the auctioneer said, "Going once, going twice, gone." People sighed with relief thinking that they could now get on with the real business.

The auctioneer then looked at the audience and said that the auction was over. There was stunned disbelief. It's very simple, said the auctioneer, "according to the will of the father, whoever takes the son gets all."

When God created the world he intended men and women to have a great relationship with him. They spoiled this relationship by ignoring him and doing their own thing. They sinned. This separated God from them just as the things we do wrong lead to separation in our human relationships. To restore our relationship with him, God sent Jesus Christ, his only son to the world, to live as a man. Jesus paid the price for our sin by dying in our place - a slow and painful death on a cross. Thankfully, the story does not end there. Because God was satisfied with the work and sacrifice of Jesus, he raised him from the dead and took him to be with him in heaven.

As Jesus took the punishment for all the wrongs things we do, we can now experience God’s forgiveness and enjoy a sound relationship with him. The good news is that anyone can be forgiven by God, it doesn’t matter what you have done, if you tell him you want to be forgiven and begin to trust him with your life, you will be glad and there will be a great celebration in heaven, too!

Christianity is all about a personal relationship with God, made possible by Jesus Christ. Through this relationship your life will never be the same again because God's forgiveness brings peace and happiness and enjoyment in the relationship. Have you received God's gift to you? Trust in Jesus now and enjoy his love - forever!