We are a nation influenced by numbers. Once upon a time it was longer,
lower, and wider, and the more your car was, the more bragging rights you had.
Less than 20 years later it was miles per gallon, and who got the most, leaving
the who has the most horsepower crowd in the dust. Didn’t matter how fast you
went, or how wide or long your car was if there was no gas to put in it. But
the numbers only meant something if compared to another number, which was made
evident in the late 1970’s in the motorcycle world. Big once meant 350 cc and
above, now 500 or even 750 cc was the buy in number, with 1000 cc’s and up to
six cylinders giving you bragging rights. But one survey done put speed in the
right perspective, and how narrow minded California bike riders had become. If
bike A was quicker than bike B by .01 second, guess who got the sale? Quarter
mile times were the defining standard for speed, with manufacturers fighting to
get the quickest bike tester and track for their ads, and bragging rights. How
many conversations, really arguments were had over whose 750 was faster, the
magazine said this, another said different. We never took into account track
conditions or the test rider, what it came down to among us was on any given
day, on any given road, who was quicker. Who was faster, or who could avoid the
police the best. All the numbers meant nothing when it came down to just
riding. Many egos were bruised, some massaged, and many created on the street,
despite the ads. When cubic centimeters didn’t matter, it came down to the
dyno. But it always came down to the street.
Mickey is right at home in his dyno room. And one morning while doing a
press bike swap, he was arguing with a guy who wasn’t happy about the results of
Mick’s dyno. He was blaming the dyno, as when he had it dynoed at another shop
last week it had a few more horsepower, something must be wrong with Mick. And
despite Mickey’s explaining to him the difference weather can make, the fuel you
just bought, and other day to day factors, the guy went looking for another
shop. But when confronted with the truth, finally admitted, I just need to have
more power than my friend’s bike.” The statement that coerced his admission was
“you can’t even ride the horsepower you have, you just care about the numbers.”
And he couldn’t and he did. Searching from dyno to dyno for the biggest
number. Just how much did the bragging rights mean to him? $300 a dyno test!
And you think women shop too much.....
Having attended mega churches over the years, I hear too much emphasis on
the numbers. After one Easter when over 1000 came to the Lord at one church, I
asked “can you name ten of them? Five? One?” The silence you hear is the
answer I got. Now I am thrilled that many went forward, but that became the
main topic among the church during the week. But after a few weeks, where are
the new converts? If 1000 people got saved at your church one Sunday, wouldn’t
you expect a larger crowd the next week? Yet the crowd never grew
larger....where did they all go? Maybe a lesson hitting me closer to home was
my flock grew to over 30 in a tight room. The numbers were growing, but I was
stagnant. Until a wiser man pointed out to me how a group of 10-15 is just
right for the type of ministry I do, and he was right. We see real growth in
the spirit, not reflected in numbers, we see names and faces, we get to know
each other, and have bound together in the spirit as a family. A small
community of believers, and growth took on a whole new and exciting meaning.
Jesus taught of the one in 99 he returned for, and all of us were that one at
one time. If Jesus could take the time, why can’t we? How many know we are his
bragging right to his father in heaven, those of us who were given to Jesus to
protect and raise up, then do for others. One person at a time....
So I get blessed when asked for more clothes, that those in our group are
taking to the homeless and showing God’s love. Jesus may love you, but when
naked and cold it is hard to hear. They take food out to those hungry, and when
asked “why?” share what Jesus did in their lives. And all get blessed! When it
comes down to the person and not the group, it becomes more personal.
Individuals get saved, one by one, even in a crowd. But who is there after the
conversion, when it is toughest in their new life? When those at work make fun
of them, when older saints expect too much from them, when they don’t meet
church rhetoric or expectations? Jesus told us make disciples, we need to
disciple them, invite them in, and love on them. Be the older brother God calls
us to be, yet too many are only interested in the numbers while getting ready
for the next service. Jesus gave up his rights so we can be his bragging rights
before his father, not bragging on himself, but thanking him for what he has
done in us. It’s not “my church is bigger than your church,” but the size of
the God you trust and worship. The one who can save you from hell, and provide
heaven on earth. If dyno tested, how much power would our personal relationship
with Jesus produce? The answer is not found in things done, but how and why we
do them.
If not done in love, no matter how many we feed, how big our services are,
how much giving we give to orphans or missions, God sees us as a clanging bell,
more noise than substance. Like the bells a Pharisee wore on his robes to warn
the people of his coming, it was all about him, what are you all about? He also
describes all our doings as filthy rags compared to love. We may be highly
fashionable, but God sees beyond the Gucci leathers and looks at the leathery
heart. But don’t despair, even the disciples fell asleep at crucial times,
Jesus asking them “couldn’t you stay awake just one more hour?” But don’t
worry, he forgives. Do we let his forgiveness change us?
Yet many still look to out perform the other, pride will do that and it is
alive and well. Read the descriptions of love in 1 Corinthians 13, then the
spiritual fruit in Galations 5. If yours vary, we need to change. God never
does, fortunately, so we need to change to be like him. Without all the man
made and pride induced spirituality we possess confusing the issue. When the
blind man was given his sight by Jesus and asked, all he could say was “I was
blind and now I see. Good or bad, I don’t know.” How blind are we? 3000 were
killed the day Moses brought them the law, 3000 were saved when the spirit
descended on them on the day of Pentecost. You decide about your bragging
rights...I know where I place mine. And at less than $300 to prove it!
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blog.spot