On our new Mustang, it tells you when to change the oil, not by time or
miles like in the old days-10 years ago. So back to the selling dealer we went,
for our complimentary service, no longer called tune ups-computers do that, and
a detail. We dropped off the car, and would pick it up the next day, giving them
plenty of time per their advice and scheduling. But living over 25 miles away,
a short 25 mile drive is really 200+, as I followed on the old Tiger, adding up
to over 100 miles round trip, then repeat it when we picked it up. Over 200
miles for a detail and oil change, and when you look at it like that, maybe the
free really isn’t. Think of it as burning a tank of gas, almost $40....now how
much is free? And is it worth the trip?
I ride over 160 miles round trip to Mickey for my motorcycle service or to
swap bikes, and think nothing of it, yet this 200 miles in two days bothered
me. Which didn’t come to light until we got the car home and a new scratch
appeared, and it has to go back, and be repaired, again free, but again a 200
mile round trip including retrieving it. Suddenly the price of free is
prohibitive, and complimentary is drawing some different compliments that are
not very complimentary. Especially since it didn’t have to happen, the second
trip that is.
I used to tell my techs to “autograph your work with excellence, so the
next guy who opened the hood would say ’wow, this guy really knew what he was
doing.’” From the other flaws in the detail, no one checked the work, and
added a new scratch, although I didn’t have to pay for it, I am now. The joy
of the free has turned to concern, what will I find next, will it be ready when
they say, they claimed it was last time, when it wasn’t. Do I have any
confidence in their work, or am I getting exactly what I paid for, nothing? How
do you autograph your work? If hurried, when do you find time to fix your
mistakes? There is no money in comebacks, and the question of when and how long
come up. Normal questions we all would ask......and doubt begins to creep
in.
When Jesus told his disciples he was going away, but would return, he also
told the story of rebuilding the temple in three days. And they wondered, “how
long will he be gone? When is he going to return?” Did they just hang out for
three days after his crucifixion, then begin to wonder, or did the countdown
begin that Friday afternoon? He had told them he was going to the father, now
the why crept in also. Have questions about God, who do you ask? Jesus had
left them his spirit, it would be a few days before the words he spoke took
hold, but when they did, things changed. Forever.
So today many scoff at the promise of his return as promised. His last
days statement now is over 2000 years, that’s a lot of days. Is he late, did he
forget, did we get it wrong? Was this the only promise he will not fulfill? Do
you wonder when? How soon? And why he left in the first place? Or is he like
my 200 mile tune up, except his round trip isn’t round yet? At Bible study last
week, when asked if we could ask God anything, a woman replied “I want to know
the day of Jesus’ return, the rapture.” So she could be ready. This seasoned
Christian who has studied her Bible for so long, left out the why we don’t know,
because Jesus doesn’t even know. He will come like a thief in the night, so be
ready. But her attitude was still so she would know something no one else did,
my response upset her, but was straight on. “Who are you going to tell that
will care if you were right? You will be in heaven, and anyone who does care
will be there too, so it won’t matter. Further yet, the day you are called home
is your rapturing out, either by death or the rapture, either way Jesus calls us
home.” How many false dates have we been given, you want to add your name to
that list?
You see my 200 mile service went from joy to sorrow and back to joy. Just
like knowing Jesus, we get filled with joy, then real life sets in, and sorrow
can follow. It is when we keep our eyes on him we can bypass the sorrow, for we
know the unspeakable joy is coming. Now if heaven is joy unspeakable, why do we
try to put it into words? Are we not told in 1 Corinthians that eye has not
seen, no ear heard, nor mind imagined the things of the kingdom? Yet we
envision heaven as we want it, the only thing I can tell you for sure is it will
be better than anything we can imagine, and Jesus will be there. That should be
enough joy to keep us for eternity. Unlike my 200 mile round trip....
We all weep and mourn, so you are normal, but we as Christians have his
promise to come fetch us back. And in the meantime, he has left his spirit that
lives within us. My car will need the oil changed again, it will get dirty and
need to be detailed again. But my one time of being born again will last into
eternity and beyond, the waiting will be worth it. Jesus tells us that the
things that cause us sorrow he will turn to joy, that is authentic Christianity,
not some doctrinal philosophy. Jesus is coming soon, and soon is always sooner
than we are ready for. Turn your trials over to Jesus today, and watch as he
turns your sorrow to joy, as he is in the details, some so fine we cannot see
them. For we look for infinity in large quantities, Jesus shows up in
infinitely small things. Today I will take the Mustang back and being the 200
mile round trip again to fix the detailing. If Jesus calls us home before it is
done, what does it matter? What matters is will you be called home with us.
Are you saved? do you know Jesus? You see there are details, and
detailing.....never confuse the two.
The world rejoices now as we sorrow as we see things falling apart. But
our time is coming, it is called eternity. Funny how we trust the car to tell
us when it needs service, if only we trusted God as much. Didn’t he make us
after all? Joy is here now via the holy spirit, yet heaven awaits. Enjoy
today, and don’t worry about knowing the date. The important thing is “will you
be going with him?”
Now about that check engine light...
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com