There was a time when the badge on the front fender told the world what a
fast car you had. Numbers like 454, 426, 302, 406, 327, 396, and 428 along
with others told the guy in the lane next to you at the traffic light, “don’t
mess with me.” Sometimes if the other guy hadn’t noticed the badge, a quick rev
of the engine assured him you were bad, as in good. Add in racing stripes, hood
pins, mag wheels, Crager SS my favorite, and Wide Oval tires, and you at least
looked the part, and might even sound the part. But maybe about to be taken
apart by a sleeper, a plain Jane car with big motor, without all the frills.
One car in our area was a 1966 Chevy Biscayne, two door white, with a 427, that
except for its uneven idle, looked innocent enough. But how many Dodges and
GTO’s only ever saw his tail lights until the next red light. Either looking
over with respect or looking away in embarrassment. Such was the sixties, but
sleeper cars have always been, and still are to a certain degree.
Another favorite was a 1967 Chevelle four door hardtop, painted blue with
skinny whitewall tires. Looked like your Mom’s grocery getter, but under the
hood was a hot motor in more ways than one. Borrowed from a race team while
everyone else was at the finals, it was a full race drag 327 from a Super Stock
car. Even the exhaust had a slight burble to it, and if you didn’t notice the
uneven idle, where it sounded like it was about to die, you were fair bait. I
had a ride in it once, and was hooked. Both on sleepers and fast cars. And
have never owned a car with racing stripes! But I did have a motorcycle with
one....
Mickey had built a Rocket 3 with a Carpenter head, 2300 cc of motor with
150 hp to start, redlining at 6500. A torque monster with over 100 lb./ft at
idle, more than a Harley at max. But with head, it dynoed at 220 hp, torque was
189 and redline jumped to 9000 rpm! It sounded like a NASCAR wide open, but at
idle gave no pretense as to what was going on. Until Mr. Loud Pipes Save Lives
pulled up next to me at a light. Looking at my flat black ride, with a faded
white stripe, he gunned his motor, he wanted to race. Smiling inside my Arai, I
revved it up, backed off, let the exhaust pop, then did it again. I had no
intention to race, and suddenly neither did he. The light turned green and he
putt putted off, eyes straight ahead, just in case I blew by him, so I couldn’t
see his defeated ego. Over time I have ridden many fast bikes, and driven many
fast cars, but my 15 seconds of glory will always be that morning in Orange
County, on a borrowed press bike.
A lesson to learn is that whenever you take a stand for what you believe in
you become a target, like telling people you are a Christian. They may call you
on it, and every heathen knows just how we should act. Timid, weak, short hair,
and a Bible under our arm. But they never take into account the sleeper
Christians, the quiet ones, who sit in the back row, unnoticed, but always ready
for action. While others brag on what they have done for God, they quietly let
Jesus show through their actions and attitudes on a daily basis. Giving God all
the credit for the good things, while admitting to still being a work in process
about the bad things. Never revving their motor, but showing love. Just like
Paul tells about in 1 Corinthian 13, the love chapter. Like a Pharisee who made
sure he had an audience when paying his tithe, they bask in the light of
themselves, talking of Jesus, but really they are all about themselves. And
when the tough times come, find all the verse memorization, Bible study notes,
conference weekends, and church attendance don’t matter without love. They are
exposing who their God really is by their actions, they fail to receive the love
Jesus has offered, and fail when tried. Given a chance to brag on Jesus, they
choose themselves, and fail. Like the Harley rider, fast until tested, then
shown to be what they really are. But God still loves them, and even welcomes
them back into the fold. Been there, done that, I can honestly say it is better
to be humbled than humiliated, and in all things show love first.
When we truly bask in God’s love, agape, the type talked about here, a will
of the spirit to uphold and cherish others, then we can begin to fully love
God. We can begin to see Jesus as who he is and why he had to come, and the
fruit of the spirit, the love, joy, peace, and patience will shine from us.
Only then can we love ourselves because God loved us first, and begin to love
others as ourselves. When we trust the spirit to show us and guide us how to
deal with others, then we grow in his love, which is easy to do once you come to
Jesus. When you realize how much he loves you just as you are, you can love
others. Being forgiven your guilt is taken away, you can begin to be the person
God created you to be, this supernatural love from God through you becomes a
part of you. But still Paul warns, that even if you feed the poor, give all
you have to keep them, and boast of anything but Jesus in your hardship, you are
like a tinkling bell that no one can hear. Your loud bark a whimper, your fast
car a façade until a really fast one is encountered. Without God in the
equation,without operating in his love, and your love for him, you stumble and
fall before the light even changes. Sometimes exposed for what you really are,
not what you claim to be. Better a sleeper believer than a loud bell. Basking
in the solitude of the spirit, you are ready for anything because you have
everything in Jesus.
The fast guys are out there, in both religion and on the track. They may
post good numbers on a dyno, or in their church appearance. But a day of
testing is coming, and who you believe in and trust will be displayed. Burn
outs may look cool on shifting sand, but are no way to live for Christ. He is
the firm foundation, the rock that withstood the storm. Burnouts may sound
cool, don’t be one. Wheel spin means no traction, you are already falling
behind. But look and sound cool....until tested.
And God makes it easy to love him. Just be aware of how much he loved you
first. How Jesus has redeemed you and you are forgiven. The spirit that once
stirred you to come to Jesus still is alive in you today. God’s love is
supernatural, so it must come from him, but can be displayed in and through us.
When the spirit awakens us, and the smoke clears, where will you be found?
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com