Gene Patton, one of the first Honda dealers in the US once told me of how a Honda rep pulled up to his British dealership in Cortez, Colorado. In their clean, white Chevy pickup, the man told him that for only $500 in parts and bikes he could be a Honda dealer. So he took a chance and did, and for years after the Brit bike industry died, he was still selling Hondas. At the time this was a big risk, as Japanese products were considered as cheesy, poor quality imitations of real products. But Soichiro Honda evidently didn't hear that, and built high quality, small machines for the world. At a time when a 250cc was considered small, and a Harley 74 large, he sold 50cc bikes-millions of them. Hondas he called them, and never mentioned the word motorcycles in his ads. Distancing himself and his bikes from the industry standards, he rewrote them. And the trade papers thought he would fail, for the first couple of years he spent more in advertising than the company took in-but he had a vision, and within ten years in the US of A, had completely changed the motorcycle market, and how we look at motorcycles. "You meet the nicest people on a Honda" went from sales pitch to reality. Culminating in the 1969 release of a 750cc, four cylinder, disc braked motorcycle that the world had never seen the likes of. All from a humble beginning out the back of a pickup. Honda had a vision, and changed our world like no one could imagine.
There is a psychological term called normalcy bias. Simply put it states that since you have never seen it happen before, it either isn't true, or can't happen. Honda proved it wrong. Steve Jobs with Apple proved in wrong. But it is not just relegated to business.
When Hitler took over Germany in the thirties, many Jews left. But the ones who were secure in business, and had money stayed. They ignored the warnings because they had never seen anything like was warned before. And sadly became part of the 6 million who were slaughtered by Hitler. Ignoring the warnings, and losing their lives.
In 2005 Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans. The citizens were warned the levees were weak and could fail, but many stayed because they had never seen a levee fail in their lifetime. Sadly many of those aren't around to tell of when they did, they were swept away by water when the levee failed. And like the Jews who stayed behind, didn't have to die if only they had heeded the warnings.
As we watch the news today, we are able to see and hear the warnings. Social, economical, and moral collapse. And sadly men do not take the warnings of the Bible. Even though the Bible can point to over 200 prophecies fulfilled about the Bible, they trust banks, stock markets, Ouija boards, fortune tellers, and Hollywood movies. "This Jesus will never return. I've never seen Him. It's all a story. The Bible is for children and women." And men, too. They ask for a sign, but over 200 of them don't satisfy. Sadly when Jesus appeared to over 500 people after His crucifixion, they didn't believe then either. But it is not about them-it is all about Jesus.
And He is returning for His church soon. Not Baptists, Catholics, Presbyterians, or any specific denomination. He is returning for those who have faith and believe. those who have given their lives to Him-not based on what they see, but what is in their hearts. Things that are not seen that are not seen are eternal. Everything else will pass away. You may not ride a Honda. Or be related to any Jew from Germany pre-Hitler. You may not have ever been in a hurricane or to New Orleans. You may not go to church, and even make fun of Christians. You may even take God's name in vein. But the warnings are there. And Jesus is patient, waiting for you. He takes no joy in the passing of anyone, and extends His offer of salvation today.
Normalcy bias. Sadly those who fall prey to it are never around to say they were wrong. Don't be counted among the dead or missing. Read the Bible and then compare it to what is going on in the world today. Trust God. He is the only way out. And also the only way through it-if your answer is no. Today is the day of salvation. Take Jesus into your heart.
You still meet nice people on Hondas, only in Jesus will you have salvation. And it doesn't matter what you ride-or even if you ride!
The spirit of anti-Christ is alive and well. Found in those who deny Christ. Normalcy bias. He is coming back just like He said. Once again for the first time. To borrow from Honda, "from mini to might..." He is returning for all who call on His name. Is that your voice He is hearing? Do you hear His?
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com