They know me as the Triumph guy over at the Harley and Indian store. For
years I have had an open invitation to ride any Harley, but refused, still
cannot find one that piques any interest. But the Indian...well, I have ridden
the baggers, to me they handle like pushing a loaded wheel barrow through
gravel, but I was quite fond of the Scout, rough, needs more suspension, and
power. Not gross horsepower as advertised, but power where it is needed, and so
another salesman got upset with me. The power seems flat, then drops off, OK
for the guy who never screws it on, but I like it there when I want it, or need
it. But still my test ride offer is still open, with one exception, based on a
test ride last year.
In an effort to get me to compare a Scout to my T120, the salesman and I
took off on their preplanned route. Carefully designed to keep the speeds
down. Memories of when Glen and I stopped at Skip Fordyce’s and I was offered a
ride on a Buell, and when I asked “what about my friend?” he told me “I can tell
by what you are riding you’re OK.” A Speed Triple from the Press Fleet that
day. So I get it, no test rides on my bikes either. So off we went, him
chasing me, and at the last light before turning into the dealership asked “what
do you think?” “I’m not done yet,” and headed up the freeway ramp and off I
rode, him now really chasing! If you are going to test a bike, test it where
and how you ride it! By the time I got back to the dealer, I was off and
looking the bike over, and he got off, flustered and embarrassed. I just
smiled...what could I say? Better yet, what could he say, he offered me a test
ride, and that is exactly what I took!
Life is like that, one big test ride. We leave church all excited, all
pumped up, and then the emotions wear off. Real life in the form of bills, job,
kids, wife, and challenges with problems interfere. Where is the perfect life
of knowing Jesus we thought we signed up for? Once saved isn’t everything
supposed to be great? Perfect? My way? Or it really my way or God’s way? But
too many like I did on my test ride, take the highway. A way of escape, the
testing too much, or not enough. Wanting more of God , or trying to escape from
him. After all, wasn’t I told......the truth?
Like the salesman on the test ride, he had different expectations than I
did. I wasn’t done, he thought I had seen enough, what he had wanted me to
see. A sad approach to a test ride, but even sadder when applied to God. In my
wildest prayer it is always 85 degrees with a tail wind, low humidity. No
traffic, perfect curves with a smooth pavement and banked turns. The tank is
always full, the diner I am looking for always open, and the special just that,
special. My ride is just me and the road, but really it is just about me. And
that is where I fail , where the problem lies. Too many times in my
relationship with God, it is all about me. Then Jesus. Sometimes trying to
shake him, but his promise of never leaving me hinders that plan too.
Somewhere I read that most if not all of our problems are self induced. By
the choices we make. Some see clouds approaching and put on their rainsuits and
ride through the storm, thanking God for his protection. While others stop and
scramble for cover, cursing him for the rain they didn’t ask for. An approach
that defines who we say Jesus is and how we see him. But not who he is, as we
are blinded by selfishness, he is just the opposite. Ever asked God “where is
the promise you promised?” Really telling God you know better, or that he
obviously didn’t understand your prayer request. We forget or neglect or refuse
to see how all things, both good and bad, work out for those who love the Lord
and are called according to his purpose. And what is his purpose? To know
Jesus! Like the gospel, a simple answer.
But how do you know? Maybe the answer of a teenager named David will
help. Chosen to confront a nine foot tall giant with twelve fingers and toes,
he was asked “are you scared?” “He was with me against the lion and against the
bear, why would he desert me now?” Can you answer the same way? It takes
trials and testing to build a strong relationship with God, not just a teaching
or lesson from a pulpit. It takes a test ride in life to see the reality of
Jesus Christ and who he is and how much he loves you. Just like my test ride
was supposed to be about the bike, it was really about me. Is your test ride of
life in Jesus about you or him? Do you call him Lord, then go your own way?
The person riding with you may tell a different story. I might have been more
interested in the Scout if I didn’t already have the T120 with more power, that
was smoother, quicker, more comfortable, and handled better. But I did, and I
made the right choice. Just like I did with Jesus. Styles come and go, you can
always build more power, but with jeopardizing reliability. Only in Jesus will
you find all you need and desire. Desires you never knew you had or that
existed. The road may not be perfect, that is why we have forks and shocks.
Why we put air in the tires instead of riding on rims. But even the most
comfortable ride still has bumps, rain, wind, and cold. Jesus never took his
disciples around a storm, he took the right through it. Listen to the testimony
of one who endured the storm, or the one who sat it out. Then make your
choice. If you only study to pass the test, you never really learned anything.
No one ever said the test ride has to end....
The Bible calls it an eternal place named Heaven. The road and the ride
never looked better. Like a couple told me, “weatherman said 50% chance of rain
today, we heard it as 50% chance of no rain. So we rode.” They get it, do
you?
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com