While hanging out the other day and bench racing, we talked of Ray’s B King
with a turbo-fast. But another older rider remembers when Sportsters would “put
hair on your chest, and if you had hair, part it.” MY Z-1 was fast, my GS1000
faster, and my Street Triple with only 675cc’s, is even faster. Mention speed
and we all have a different idea of it. Once upon a time Triumph meant
handling, now with electronic suspensions, any current bike will out handle one
from my youth. 40 horsepower, then 50, now 200, what is fast to you? And it
may not be fast to the next guy. Different spaces in time, and when certain
bikes are mentioned, visions of speed come to mind. Either you had one, a
friend did, or you both dreamed of one, someday. And just the mention of the
name stirs memories, or of one hoped to come. The other day when asked how far
I had ridden, I mentioned Michigan, “isn’t that thousands of miles away?” To
him, a long ride is the 80 mile round trip to Julian...boring. My friend Dave
at church will not ride if it is below 70, another friend Dave in Pennsylvania
rides in the twenties...one guy rides fast at 75, another slow at 45, years old
that is. Mention time to distance, I have ridden coast to coast in less than 70
hours. A long weekend. Three days for public school grads...so what you
remember when things are mentioned is how you define yourself. Or as George
Carlin once put it, “anyone slower than you is an idiot, anyone faster is a
maniac.”
If my Grandpa was alive and you mentioned war, he would recall WWI, the
Great War, while my other Grandpa would recall WWII, stationed in the Aleutian
Islands. My Dad would recall Korea when war is mentioned, while my college and
high school friends recall Viet Nam. And still the younger ones recall Desert
Storm, while the other night a friend is ready to go on his fifth deployment, he
has another memory of Afghanistan and Iraq ahead. Each new war the war to end
all wars. So when we mention different things, they all have a different
meaning to us, our memories trying to relate to what was mentioned, to get a
reaction. Maybe a better way to remember is “you just had to be there.” But
what about things that aren’t relative to each other, what about church?
Invite someone to church, and for some you get memories of endless
catechisms. Mention Baptists you get rules, Lutherans you get teaching,
Catholics long, endless masses, and for Jewish people no Christmas services.
Mention going to church and some think of Sundays, Easter Sunday only, where
others think Saturday night services. Some are first or second on Sunday, while
some go online. Some behind bars, some sitting in bars. Mention religion and
the 10 Commandments come up, bad times in church, and the jihads we are faced
with today. Mention God to anyone and get different responses. An atheist
denies God, but is God to himself. Gnostics believe they are the way, based on
knowledge, yet Solomon, the wisest was lost without the spirit, Ecclesiastes
written in a fallen state. Seeking.... Some religions deny heaven, some warn
of hell, and others just want to make you feel good. Some tell you to just be a
good person, while some give up hope on all but those who have done good works.
While others by not taking a stand are taking a stand. Religion is a dirty
word, yet we all live religiously, based on what we believe. And since almost
all have had a bad time at church at one time, it must be the fault of the
church or of God, and just the mention of him brings instant responses.
Mention the Bible, to some a way to live, to others a fantasy, some think
just a book of stories, some mention history, but only Christians know it is the
word of God. Some even read it, while others misquote it wanting to appear
Godly. But reading it brings you face to face with Jesus. And a decision. But
what about Jesus?
Mention Jesus and some will not deny he was a great teacher. Rabbi means
teacher. Some will even go as far as a great philosopher, humanitarian, even a
prophet. Some only mention his name in vain, cursing God, why don’t they curse
Buddha? Or Mohammad? Yet the only one who is God they deny. Denying
forgiveness, forgoing salvation, and never knowing peace in their lives. But
yet Jesus proves himself over and over again. And to those who met him, their
lives were never the same. Historians prove the fact that he was alive ,and
witnesses were still alive when the books were written. Certainly they would
have been questioned if they were not true. Dozens, then hundreds, then
thousands, have died in his name, never seeing him, but believing in him. And
today many are still martyred in his name, trusting him over death. Trusting
his spirit over all others. Who you say he is will dictate where you spend
eternity. But who is Jesus?
First he is the son of God, and he is God. I cannot explain it, the things
of the spirit must be explained in the spirit. No finite words can describe an
infinite God. He was there in the beginning, he goes back farther than
history. He will be here forever, and is here right now. Today. this second.
Second he was born to a virgin. No one else ever was, and only by the spirit
was he formed in Mary’s womb, and only by the spirit was she and Joe comforted.
Both knew she was a virgin, and so did God. We know he died a horrible death on
the cross, and hundreds saw him there, and after he was resurrected. For some
40 days he was out in public, certainly someone had to see him and deny it was
him, but none did. His tomb was empty, and the rock was picked up and tossed
away, no simple act for a man who was dead. And who had survived 39 lashes.
And guarded by soldiers, centurions, which means 100, who were to be punished by
death if he escaped. So how did he get past them? How did he do all the things
he said he would, how did he fulfill over 300 prophecies? Is it possible maybe
he is who he says he is? What do you say?
Now that you mention it, it takes more faith to deny rather than believe
Jesus is God. That he is who he says he is. Just a little faith, maybe a “I’ll
try Jesus and see” will change your life. That same spirit that changed 12 men
into apostles, who met Saul on the road to Damascus, who visited John on Patmos,
who fed the 5000, healed the lame,and gave the blind sight, is available right
now. Beyond religion, he is not bound by laws, but love. He is the beginning,
and the end, and the right now. Who do you say he is? Even the demons tremble
at his name, are you smarter than them? Yet he allows us to make the choice
ourselves, for true love demands a decision. And by saying nothing, you are
saying no. He tells us plainly, “either you are for me or against me.” Some
trust in lies, yet he tells us let God be God and all others liars. He is not
an opinion poll, and not a way to live, he is life. You are dead without
him...
Now that you mention it, I do believe in Jesus. I want forgiveness,
eternal life. Sounds better than death and suffering. Without him you are in a
contest for your soul, for your very life. Mention heaven, we all want to go.
Mention hell, you would be foolish to find out you were wrong. The gates of
hell don’t keep you out, only Jesus does. The gates keep sinners in, there is
no way of escape. Only Jesus...until your dying breath, then your fate is
sealed. Some are faster, some quicker. Some have more horsepower, some never
use what they have. Mention war, we all have memories. Mention Jesus...the
rest is up to you. Don’t confuse church with Jesus, the church will not save.
Only Jesus will.
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com