I very rarely drive a car, the four motorcycles more than take care of most
of my transportation needs. But faced with carrying our grandson, at 17 months
too young for a moto ride and too large when equipped with car seat for the
backseat of the Mustang, I went in search of a used, but safe vehicle to haul
him and our 120 pound American Bulldog Tessio. With little money but high
hopes, a limit of $2500 was set, I knew it would be older with high miles, but I
have been there before with my vehicles, so onto Craigslist I went. Reading
between the lies and innuendoes, Christopher and I spent Saturday looking at
cars. Really trucks, as an older Explorer was our first choice, and the first
SUV to enter our garage. But after looking at two, clean and all things work
took on a new meaning. The first one was clean, if you happened to raise goats
in it, and all things work meant except the AC, and the guy got mad at me
because I should have asked. But the tires were good. The second was clean,
owned by a detailer, but again no AC, he claimed to hear the compressor, but it
never came on. So home we went and back to Craig. Expanding my scope, I found
a 2000 Nissan Xterra, and called on it. Now I don’t like Nissans never have,
with the possible exception of the original 240Z, from their Major Motion ads in
the eighties, to dropping the name Datsun, I thought they were junk. And here I
found myself looking at one to buy.
My first view of it was it was big and black, breaking my rule of only one
black car in my life time, shiny, but paint needed help, lots of it. But it was
very clean, as was the Carfax, and the daily driver of a buyer of used cars for
dealerships in the area. After driving it, for 184,000 miles it didn’t rattle,
was super clean, new battery, and the tires would get me by. It had room for
the dog, room for the car seat and all the kid goodies they bring with them, and
he wanted $2400. In my range, would he take $1900? He would, and did, and we
drove off in my first Nissan. An SUV, a truck converted to civilian use by
Nissan, and tough. Replacing two body clips on the interior, a new air filter,
and $1.78 for a second key, it has been our backup car for the last month. A
history of one mile trips its regimen, and I am not too embarrassed to own it.
It goes to Costco, maybe the most dangerous place to drive on earth, drips oil
on the driveway, but the level is OK, and was cheap to insure. Even a CD player
that sounds OK to these old motorcycle ears. It is old enough to vote and be
drafted, old enough for college, and parts are still available. Seems these
suckers get sick, but never succomb. No rust, some wear on the driver’s seat,
cold AC, but no the cruise doesn’t work. You’re probably asking “what did you
expect for $1900?” My quick answer, “more than I expected.” And with no car
payments....
I have never met anyone who woke up one morning and decided to find God.
Our sin nature takes us away from God and the things of God. If not for the
holy spirit telling us “we need Jesus” we would never seek him. But God in his
mercy wants to reunite with his creation, and sent Jesus in the form of a man to
replace the first Adam who rebelled and fell from grace. Perfect as Adam was
before the fall, Jesus is the only way back to God, no other name under heaven
or below the earth will do it. But what do you expect form your God, and many
new believers get disillusioned. Many are looking for the Genie in the lamp, to
grant them all their wishes, to be like winning the lottery, and becoming rich.
Some are looking just to make it through the day, don’t even think about
tomorrow, just a meal and a place to rest my head is heaven to them. Some seek
Nirvana, or the ultimate peace through procedures, while some study their way to
salvation. It seems we are all seeking something, but it takes someone to
satisfy. It takes God, who sent Jesus in the form of man, to save man. But
saved from what?
When Adam and Eve fell, mankind was cursed, sin had entered its gene pool,
and would never be the same. It had no chance, it had been perfect now was
mired in a sin nature it couldn’t shed. Like the ads for a used truck, many try
to entice, but when faced with the truth fall short. Good way to live, a
peaceful belief, but no salvation. Some promise heaven and don’t believe in
hell, some don’t believe in either, but control you telling you, you don’t want
to go to a place that doesn’t exist. Seems for every flavor of religion, there
is a person who will try it at least once. And then along comes Jesus...
Jesus came into the world to save. God sends no one to hell, it is our
choice, and Jesus is the right choice, the only choice for salvation. He was
not a philosopher, more than a great teacher and prophet. He was not religious,
he went against the religious trends of the day, and still does today. Religion
binds, the spirit gives freedom. Not a set of laws, or even a way of life, he
is life, offering forgiveness, and the promise of heaven. His words are true,
his love pure, and everlasting. Before the beginning he was, and after the end
he still will be. And is ever present right now. The Great I am, for what ever
your needs, he is. You need look no further, for in Jesus Christ you have found
everything. Yet many deny him, looking in vain...
Take a moment and forego religion, try Jesus. True love demands a choice,
and only God lets you make it. You cannot legislate morals or love, the must
come from the one who is love, for love is not a verb, but a noun, the person of
Jesus. He invites you to meet him today, will not force you to do anything, but
encourages you to grow in grace, found in no other. After all the ads promising
but not delivering as advertised, wouldn’t a little truth be nice?
And so I chose Jesus, and when I did I knew immediately I did the right
thing. I knew I was accepted, forgiven, and had a lot of growth and change
ahead of me. But he is patient, not like we are, but has everything under
control. With many unexpected answers....like the Xterra. Me and a Nissan? to
my ego and pocketbook a big never, but to him just the right car. I just knew
because I know him, and I know his spirit. How he provides what you need, when
you need it. Somehow I even like driving the thing, me in an SUV? And pulling
up to the house still wonder who is there, not quite used to seeing it parked in
the drive yet. But it hauls groceries, plays Nat King Cole and Chicago on CD,
blows cold air, and is tougher than a Costco parking lot. It is sufficient,
word we fail to use many times, especially with Jesus. But it is written he is
sufficient in all things, not too much, not too little. Not too early, not too
late. What you need when you need him. Now if he can save your soul, don’t you
think he can guide you through life too? That Nissan just sat waiting for me,
but so did Jesus. Still looking, I have found. My first and only God, probably
not my last car. But when I need one, I know who to call. And better yet, who
will answer. With much more than I ever expected.
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com