Gazing at you, I get the heat
Following you, I climb the mountain
I get excitement at your feet
Sadly as a rider I have heard these words told too many times, “I didn’t
see him, he came out of nowhere, it’s like he was invisible.” And sadly these
words are spoken after a biker has gone down, hit by a car, driven by someone
who wasn’t looking, wasn’t paying attention, was in too big a hurry to care
about anyone else but themselves. But yet the damage is done, and although they
walk or drive away, our bikes are loaded on a flat bed with no respect, and we
go off in the meat wagon. But an even more accurate account of the story is
simply “I wasn’t looking,” which implies guilt and a sense of responsibility.
But never on their part, so we should be looking out for those who aren’t
looking out for us...why does it always seem to end up my fault even when it’s
not? I am reminded of a funny skit in the movie “Amazon Women on the Moon,” a
parody of 1950’s sci-fi movies. In it this man believes he is invisible, and
every night takes off his clothes, they aren’t invisible, and goes to a pub
playing tricks, moving glasses, making sounds, and moving objects that seem to
be moving by themselves. What he doesn’t know is everyone can see him, but they
go on with the charade night after night, “blimey, the glass is moving by
itself, must be the invisible man...” and no one is amused, the man a joke, a
big joke. He is like the emperor who has no new clothes-he is naked! For all
to see! I wonder, maybe if we rode naked, would more people see us? Who wants
to be first? Just remember to wear your helmet....”blimey, it’s the invisible
biker!”
In the famous rock opera Tommy, Pete Townshend writes the immortal chorus
“see me, feel me, touch me, heal me...” It seems the deaf dumb and blind boy,
the pinball wizard has some physical problems, but not as much as those who can
see, but don’t. How many times when we see a blind person do we turn away, not
making eye contact, as if they could see us staring? Same for those who are on
crutches and wheelchairs, if we don’t look they don’t exist. Just like the
biker they just hit, or the person they stepped over, if I don’t see them, they
don’t exist. Invisible people, the world is filled with them, how many of us
have eyes to see them?
Luke tells us the story of the rich man and Lazarus, a poor cripple, who
waited each day outside the rich man’s home. Begging just for a few crumbs to
satisfy him, yet the rich man steps over him every day, every time. He knows
he is there, but they have no relationship other than seeing each other, and
Lazarus being stepped over. Sadly we are all that rich man from time to time,
and even the beggar, just looking for help. So I ask, how many Lazaruses have
you stepped over today? People God has put in your path, who need you? And you
ignore them, making excuses, sometimes feeling remorse, other times disgust for
them? And even worse you know it. These people aren’t invisible, nor are your
actions. Others see them, and may call you on it, what is your excuse? Are you
not invisible? Ever wanted to be after being caught? See me, I wish you
hadn’t.
But the one person, the true invisible man, the one we call on daily, is
always with us. It is the person of the holy spirit, unseen by the human eye,
but felt within our own spirit. A person who we cannot deny, but cannot prove
either. Someone who is always with us to comfort, to guide, and to give wisdom,
but who we ignore. Whereas the world tells us “seeing is believing,” until you
hit a biker, then you deny it, Jesus tells us “believing is seeing.” And so
many of us miss miracles, blessings, and the presence of God simply because we
aren’t looking for him. We are like the Jews who look for signs and wonders,
and follow them, but what happens when the signs and wonders stop? When they
aren’t there? Does that mean the spirit has left the building? Elvis may have,
Jesus never has or will. Yet more believe in Elvis being alive than Jesus.
People still claim to see him, how many of us claim to have seen Jesus? Or will
admit to being in the spirit? Just because you cannot explain it, or haven’t
seen it, doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. We need to seek the invisible man, to
trust in the holy spirit, and to listen to him. We need to be reminded of
Daniel in the fire, and how a fourth figure appeared in the flames-it was Jesus,
via the holy spirit. It takes the spirit to open the eyes of the blind...to see
the invisible, and to trust a God who we can’t see, feel, touch, or hear, but we
do. Who we cannot define because you cannot use finite words to describe an
infinite God. Yet he leaves signs everywhere of his presence, and we don’t see
them.
So we need to trust the invisible man, the holy spirit. If you are saved
you know his voice, you know his presence. “But how will I know?” you ask. It
is something so personal I cannot describe being in the spirit, but I know when
I’m not. The peace of Jesus, the comfort, the presence of him is not there, not
because he left because I did. I chose not to see him...
Today God will place at least one Lazarus before you. Before you step over
him in too much of a hurry. Before you make excuses for not stopping or aiding,
whether it be a homeless person, or the guy in the next cell, or the next
cubicle, even the guy at the light next to you, stop and ask God. Be ready for
his answer, then act. A smile, a hello, a listening to them, may be all God
asks of you, and the blessings flow. Or you may be reminded except for the
grace of God go I. Whatever your excuses, don’t fall into the group Jesus
addresses in Matthew 25. After bragging of all their accomplishments for him,
he tells them to be gone, “I never knew you.” And asks “where were you when I
was hungry, thirsty, naked, a stranger, in jail, or sick?” “For whoever takes
care of the lowest one has done this to me.” Want to have a drink with Jesus, a
meal? Take a homeless person to lunch. Get them some clothes, welcome a
stranger at church, do a hospital visit. See the invisible man in others, and
see Jesus like never before. For God so loved the world, he sent his only son.
Jesus. So look to the cross, who do you see? It’s empty, but I see Jesus in
the spirit. The spirit God has sent to us until Jesus returns, and we see him
face to face. For now he appears to only those who can see the invisible man,
but seek him. He gives sight to the blind, maybe you are that blind man, but
have 20/20 vision. Just because you fail to see him doesn’t mean he doesn’t
exist. The rich man saw Lazarus, he never saw Jesus. Who you see now will
give you insight to who you will see forever. Where your eyes go your life will
follow. Or your motorcycle. I know where I am going, because I see Jesus.
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com