Have you ever noticed that among your friends, assuming you have any, you
tend to have the same ideas and beliefs? Take meeting people at an old car
meet, Chevy men like Chevies, make fun of Fords, and make up jokes about what
MOPAR stands for-Move Over Parts Are Rusting. Ford makes fun of Chevrolet, Can
Hear Every Valve Rattling Over Lousy Engineering Techniques. Ford guys get it
from everyone, Found On Road Dead, Fords Only Run Downhill, and many others.
But Pontiac, RIP gets their’s too, Poor Old Nitwit Thinks It’s A Cadillac.
BMW-Bring Money With You. Now that FIAT, Fix It Again Tony owns Chrysler, many
wounds from 40 years ago will be reopened. But what of Volvo-Very Odd Looking
Vehicular Object, or Porsche, Proof Of Rich Spoiled Children Having Everything,
who probably go to USC, University of Spoiled Children. Dodges Drip Oil, Drip
Grease Everywhere. Subaru, Screwed Up Beyond Any Recognition Usually. Honda
people will argue but many have Had One, Never Did Again. Acura parents beware,
All Children Understand Real Autos, maybe Plymouth went away, RIP, too many had
to Please Leave Your Money Out Under The Hood. My precious MG’s, Mostly
Garaged. Mazda lovers beware, Made At Zoo by Demented Apes. Owned one once,
may be some truth there. GMC owners know they Got Mechanic Coming, while Audi
owners are Another Uninformed Driver Ignorance. AMC owners have come to say
“Ain’t My Car.” And Saabs are Sad Autos, Always Broken. Yah, sure, doncha
know? And the list goes on forever...much longer than the cars.
But sooner or later, all truths are exposed, as Volvo brags about one of
their cars going over 500,000 miles. Must have been a mistake. Ford brags
First On Race Day, while Chevrolet used to tell us to see the USA in a
Chevrolet, of course they have dealers everywhere. Was that just an ad for
service? Jeeps are now Chryslers, Chryslers are now FIAT’s, and Plymouth is no
more. You can only remember your Father’s Oldsmobile because production was
aborted over 12 years ago. Same with other orphans such as Saturn, Pontiac, and
Mercury. Once all popular and recognized brand names, no longer around to be
made sport of. Gone but not forgotten. But in the motorcycle world, both
Triumph and Indian have been resurrected, thankfully not like their previously
deceased ancestors. But many still honor the name, and the reputation, memories
jaundiced by too many nights spent on the side of the road, daring to ride after
dark. And when all is said and done, or towed home, we stick to brands that we
feel familiar with. And will endure the problems, poor dealers, jokes, and
abuse from other brand owners. Just wait though, their time is coming....just
not soon enough.
It is never mentioned what the Apostle Paul drove. But he must have driven
a hard bargain when it came to buying. Can you imagine some salesman asking
Paul, “what will it take to put you into this car today?” Or “how much can you
afford per month?” He was more of a win on Sunday, and continue to win on
Monday type of guy. Sharing the gospel wherever he went, to whoever would
listen. And many times to those who didn’t want to. One man was Felix, not the
cat, but a Roman governor. Confronted with a conversation with Paul, and
hearing the truth, he found it rather unsettling. Like taking your car in for
service for a noise that only you can hear, and that magically disappears once
you cross over into the dealer’s lot. What seemed to upset old Felix was Paul
was telling him about the upcoming judgment, and Felix didn’t like it. When he
was told that all things would be revealed, spoken secrets shouted from
housetops, and secret actions revealed, he asked Paul to leave. But come back
again, maybe after he had composed himself, or Paul had changed his tone. Paul
had talked to him about sin, repentance, and self control, three things those
caught in sin don’t want to hear, and was asked to leave. In prison, Felix was
hoping Paul would offer him a bribe, after all he was the governor and Paul the
prisoner, yet Paul’s words made him feel like the prisoner, and Paul’s telling
of Jesus the only escape. So he told Paul, “go away, come back at a more
convenient time.” Imagine anyone saying that to Paul, now imagine anyone saying
that to Jesus. Doesn’t take much imagination-we have all been there. But Jesus
never gave up on us, and hasn’t on you either.
But sadly many are like Felix, who had many other conversations with Paul,
but was never afraid again. His heart was so hard, it didn’t fear what the
gospel told him, and he didn’t do anything about it. Fear will do that to you,
and when confronted with Jesus and when confronted with the truth and do nothing
about it, their hearts are hardened. And like many old car enthusiasts, tend
to congregate together , and make fun of what they don’t understand or don’t
agree with. Good thing we are never like that, right? I mean, who besides a
Ford owner would want to be Found On Road Dead? When you can be riding with
Jesus? Only Jesus can promise what Dodge can’t, Dead On Delivery, Guarantee
Expired. And how many have found that you cannot work or buy your way into
heaven, it is like BMW-Big Money Wasted.
What you drive tells us a lot about you. Only God sees your heart and the
hidden sin in it. Someday to be revealed, but to those who choose Jesus now,
the slate is clean. No warranty claims, the ride may have been rough, but we
make it. And with careful regular maintenance in Christ, we will. Felix wanted
to intimidate Paul, he had the title and the power. Yet as a prisoner of the
gospel he had more power and authority than Felix could hope for, even though it
was offered. Extend your warranty to heaven today, only available in Christ.
Today is the day of salvation, Paul knew it, Felix blew it. That more
convenient time you have put off is now...don’t be around to remember the
saddest words ever heard, “not now Jesus, maybe later, I’ll get back to you.”
Don’t be like a Jaguar, Jerks Are Giving Unasked Advice Regularly. Don’t act
like a Jeep, Just Expect Excessive Problems if you do. The spirit is calling,
don’t wait. Today’s Chrysler could be tomorrow’s FIAT. Why Fix It Again Tony,
when Jesus can fix it today?
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com