Thursday, November 30, 2017

starving student sells cycle, sees sinner saved










My friend Vince was the best car salesman I ever met.  He took good care of his customers, and always made a good deal for them and his dealership.  I met him when he came by trying to sell a 1971 BMW R75/5 motorcycle a customer wanted to trade on a new Scirocco.  Anything to make the deal, it was an above average bike, a white one, back then BMW only sold black bikes, and every 1000th bike was painted white, it had the large tank, a Windjammer fairing, and Krauser bags.  Where I was working selling motorcycles wasn’t interested, I offered him wholesale, $1000, and it was mine.  It was a good deal where all parties benefited.  And a bike I would ride for a few months, before going back to school at UNM, and becoming a starving student would have to sell.  So reluctantly that September, I put an ad in the paper, and a man responding wanted it, thought the price fair, but was $200 short.  Could I give him 60 days on a note?  I was young and trusting, his cash covered more than I paid with a small profit, so I agreed, and he rode off.  Never hearing from him again, until the 60 days was near.
He was excited to see me, loved the bike, and would I meet him at the Denny’s where he was a cook to get the balance of cash?  So rounding up Garcia, an ex-enforcer, and now a Christian brother, we met on the loading platform where he gave me the cash, along with a story.  When I sold the bike it had a Jesus fish sticker on the Windjammer windshield, and whenever he rode it, had to see it.  Obviously others did too, including many Christians,who seeing the fish thought he was a Christian, and greeted him in love.  At first it bothered him, but as more and more waved, and talked with him, he became interested, and finally found a church, and gave his life to the Lord.  He told me he had done everything and anything to get the sticker off, but it wouldn’t budge, at first it made him mad, now he was glad.  His testimony of coming to Christ, a starving student, sells a cycle, and sees a sinner saved, and it was him!  I never saw him or the bike again, but know where I will someday.
It is the foolish things of the world that God uses effectively, and a motorcycle with me involved, and a Jesus sticker may not seem like evangelism to those that go out witnessing, but in fact was an effective witness to this man.  And those who saw it.  No preaching, no special prayer, not even invited to church, just other Christians greeting him in love, and guided by the Holy spirit he responded to Jesus’ invitation.  Without knowing it, we had shared Jesus showing goodness and kindness, two of the fruit of the spirit.  He saw Jesus as a friend through us, and wanted the things of Jesus because of it.  In a world where often times we shrink when asked if we are a Christian, so many responded to the sign of the fish as they did in the first church when under persecution.  The spirit of the Lord is stronger than any sin or sinner, and the power to save comes from him, but can work through us, se we can see his hand of love at work.  Sometimes we back off, or worse yet preach at someone, here Jesus used a sticker and acts of love and friendship to send his message of salvation.  Truly he will never leave us nor forsake us, even when we sell the bike or car.  But as a result, we find new strength in him, as our faith builds, and we want to share him more.  St. Francis of Assissi once wrote “preach the gospel daily, and when necessary use words.”  For long after our words are confused or forgotten, the acts of kindness and goodness will be remembered.  That is preaching the word daily, and when we have his spirit in us, something different is noticed about us, and no amount of memorization or teaching will take the place of his spirit in action.  He tells us he will give us the words when we need them, and he does. 
But to those who go out witnessing, I have a question.  How can you turn Jesus on and off?  Doesn’t the scripture tell us as we go to share the gospel?  Many times I have been chastised for being late to a meeting, when God had me stop and minister.  On one occasion I was attending a funeral for a friend, when a regional rally was going on.  An accident occurred, and I spent most of the day ministering love to his family.  Catching the last five minutes, I was told “you missed a great teaching,”  I just smiled, I had just seen Jesus in action.  Which later would lead to me seeing further miracles related to the accident.  I was just out being a witness....
But beware, if you had a Jesus sticker on your ride, if you carry a Bible, or wear a Jesus shirt, once you identify yourself as a Christian, they will expect you to act like one.  Your witness should not be witless, but on all the time, letting your light shine.  Not blinding high beams, but the light of God shining through you to minister to others.  God had this planned since the beginning, giving a whole new meaning to motorcycle ministry.  Wave your whole hand, not just one finger, listen and be polite.  If needed use words, but nothing beats being shown love and compassion.  We were all at one time that unsaved person, not even knowing we were looking for God.  Then a sticker shows up, and it cannot be removed, just like God cannot be removed from your life.  Ride as if your life depends on it, to that unsaved rider and his new bike it did.  Let those who ride decide, and this man and myself chose Jesus.  And his promisary note you don’t have to worry about.  Sticker optional.
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com