if ever I should leave you

We tend to get attached to things very easily, which makes it even harder to let go of them.  Growing up the neighbors always traded for a new car every three years, the ones whose fathers were really doing well ever other year.  Just by what was parked in my friend’s driveway, the other neighbors knew how well off they were, or at least how strong their credit was.  One guy who bought new Chevies every year, always a 4 door hardtop, left the window sticker on, showing off how much he paid, but bragging how he got it for much less.  No attachment there, except to a new car every year.  And being a Chevy man.  Some bought only Fords, some were stuck in a MOPAR rut, for my dad it was always Ramblers, did that make him a Ramblin’ man? And sometimes the trait was passed down from father to son.  But when the gas crisis hit in 1973, suddenly Japanese cars got better mileage became popular, and many family traditions were changing.  And today, especially on the West Coast, you can see the strong Japanese influence of cars and motorcycles.  Where once Cadillac was the brand that proved you were successful, now BMW and Lexus have the honor.  Mercedes Benz will always be the one to shoot at, but back then they were just another foreign car.  Even imported by Studebaker until the early sixties.  How times have changed.  Or is it really us, as while things change, the more they stay the same. 

Many a father debated in the fifties about buying a Hudson, Nash, Studebaker, or Packard.  All good makes at one time, but now orphaned, only Studebaker making it until 1965...and in my lifetime, some of the cars of my youth are gone.  Remember Oldsmobile?  Pontiac, Mercury, Plymouth, and Saturn?  Names that used to adorn our driveways, now gone.  Muscle cars like Road Runners, Barracudas, Meteors, GTO’s, Firebirds, Grand Prix, and 442.  How about the luxury of a 98, Fury III, or Bonneville?  The cars of our fathers now gone, and the cars of our early driving years now orphaned.  Leaving many with the thought of “what will I buy next year now that my favorite brand is gone?”  Could you really bring yourself to buy a Toyota, a Datsun, I mean Nissan, or a Subaru?  But yet today’s kids thrive on 4 door sedans, with ash can mufflers, a more powerful stereo than engine, and again, MPG is more important than MPH.  What lessons did our fathers leave us to deal with these and other crises ahead?  Did they ever sit down and explain “if ever I should leave you, this is what to do?” 

And if they had, would we have listened?  For we do get attached to things of our own very easily, and change is hard, and even harder as we get older.  We all think we are prepared for whatever comes along, we found out in 2012 when I was life flighted and had open heart surgery.  I never thought “if ever I should leave you,” and when in a coma, well, you don’t.  We find ourselves unprepared for the inevitable, death, and even stray from using the word.  He passed away, gone on, isn’t with us any longer, or is in a better place.  But it is death, it is final, and happens to more than cars, motorcycles, TV shows, and other things shaping our lives.  And with a 100% death rate, it is inevitable we will all face it some day.  I decided years ago that I wasn’t afraid to die, still not after coming as close to death as you can without dying, but still not sure of the process.  Why do some die in car accidents, some in their sleep, some suicide, and still others live to be 100, yet others are miscarried.  Why are some scared of death, while others face it bravely, or even welcome it?  For me it comes down to Jesus Christ.  Without him their was an unknown element, a what if, and I hoped if there was a heaven, the rules would bend so I could get in.  Like the song of Blood, Sweat and Tears tells us “ swear they ain’t no heaven, and I pray there ain’t no hell,...only by dying I will tell.”  Not a way to live life.  Or enter death. 

The disciples were faced with death, yet didn’t realize it, nor were they prepared.  Jesus had told them of his fate, yet in the midst of life, they didn’t prepare their hearts.  He was there every day, and as we live every day with little thought for tomorrow, so did they.  Jesus will always be with them, they thought.  He was young, so were they, and life was good and exciting, as a walk with Christ is.  But after his death on the cross, they needed guidance, and Jesus had told them “ if ever I should leave you, I will send a helper.”  The Holy Spirit.  Our comforter, friend, guidance counselor, and advisor.  Who will take us through the tough times, rejoice with us in good times, and prepare us for heaven.  Until Christ returns, and we meet him in heaven.  We shall never face death, as those who are saved will pass from life to after life.  We were dead once in sin, now we are alive in him.  And we shall be with him once and for all.  Never an orphan, or an outsider looking in, we will have attained heaven, just by giving our lives to him.  No rock star, athlete, racer, celebrity, or millionaire ever made, or will make heaven without Jesus.  He is the way....all others get hell, their choice by not saying yes, for saying nothing is saying no to Jesus. 

Let the words of Jesus comfort you today.  For if he had never left, we wouldn’t have the way.  But he did, and awaits our celebration in heaven when we arrive.  But we need to make the choice, the change to Jesus.  Some resist until it is too late, some on their deathbeds, yet some are smart and do it while young.  Why wait for heaven, when you can have the things of heaven now? Didn’t Jesus teach them to pray “thy kingdom come, or earth as it is in heaven?”  What is your excuse?  Family ties, traditions, brand loyalty, or just plain stubbornness?  We don’t know the day of our death, we didn’t know the day of our birth either.  But we can know of the day of our salvation, making life worth the living.  “If ever I should leave you,”was not a subject of conversation in our home, now we are better prepared, but still not ready.  Fortunately Jesus is and is ready to assist by his spirit. While getting your house in order, don’t forget the things of the spirit.  the most important thing, the relationship with God.  Some day we will all be gone, and it is our choice to where, just not when.  Or how.  Life without Pontiac must have made thousands wonder where they would buy their next car?  They could never envision a Ford or a Chevy.  Never a Plymouth...or anything like a Mazda.  Yet when the time came, they made the change.  Some saw it coming and were prepared, some hung on till the end, and had no trade in value.  Some just hang on still, trying to patch together something that is dead and gone.  And not coming back.  Don’t treat your soul like that.  Turn to Jesus today, be assured of heaven, and enjoy life in him to the fullest.  A promise no car could ever give, nor its company.  We have gone from a “4 speed, dual quad, posi-traction 409” in one generation, to “an automatic, fuel injected, automatic 2.0 liter.”  Hybrid.  Which is neither one.  No hybrids in heaven, only those who are saved.  Are you saved, if not let’s pray, “father forgive me a sinner, save me and give me Jesus.”  Mean it with your heart, welcome to the family.  Strangers and orphans no more.  If ever you should leave here, make sure you have Jesus.  This year’s model is last year’s model, and next year’s model too.  Jesus the same forever.  How well are you doing is more than what you drive, it will always be who you know.  And while we change aren’t you glad that Jesus stays the same.

love with compassion,

Mike

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