Years ago I met a man who I loved to talk motorcycling with. He knew all
about riding, places to go and visit, specs on bikes and which one was
preferable over the other, and we enjoyed talking. Until one day I realized he
had never ridden much, all his motorcycling experience came from motorcycle
magazines. He had never known the thrill of 100 in 5 seconds, never ridden 100
miles per hour, never felt the thrill of the wind in your face, how your heart
races in tight corners, and how good it felt after a day’s ride. He had never
been to any of the places we talked of, all his memories were based on articles,
not of doing. He talked a good game, but had never played in one. But he was
known to give advise on riding, and even worse people taking it, he was a sham,
a poser, a wannabe, living one life while talking up another. The bottom line
was he had never experienced motorcycling in real life, yet came on like he knew
he had.
I am old enough and have enough miles under me that I am hard to impress.
So when another man comes to me and tells me he plans to do a cross country
ride, his first, but has it all planned out, but asks for advice, I wonder will
he take it. One 500 mile day doesn’t make a tourer even if you own touring
bike. I still tour on non-touring bikes, at least to the mainstream. But like
many who ask for advice, he hasn’t listened, and will suffer for it. Too much
internet and not enough interstate travel to prove his viewpoints. Yet he is
among a list like those I pastor, who ask for advice then return after not
taking it and suffering. It is bad enough when secular belief is held in higher
regard than Godly advice, but when Christians ignore God and suffer, I get
upset. And when the drama begins, I check out. Drama Class has been cancelled
until further notice. Read that I don’t care to hear your self inflicted wounds
from not taking Godly advice. This weekend I heard from three people who claim
to trust God, but because of not following him as he says, have fallen and the
drama begins. Drama is a way to tell if it is God’s will or your own, more
drama, less Jesus. Less drama, more Jesus. Think about it. Then obey God.
Who has given you his spirit, his rhema, to give you advice just for you in any
situation. Yet too many shop their problems until they find a sympathetic soul
who will condone their sin. Oprah not Jesus. Horoscopes not scripture. The
world instead of the spirit. And knowingly sap the life out of those they
connect with. So no more drama here, and I will stand by the lesson learned
form my friend who only talked motorcycling, never let anyone who has done
nothing tell you how to do anything. And for you worldly types, don’t confuse
the size of your paycheck with your talent. If this upsets you, your sin is
obvious....deal with it!
When Adam sinned, we always hear about his betrayal of God. How could he
have done that when we do the same thing everyday? But we neglect that he was
also betrayed first, by Eve. We see an interesting string of events, why should
he have not listened to her, and not knowing sin, why would it have made a
difference? No one talks of how he felt betrayed afterwards, this bone of my
bones and flesh of my flesh turning on him. But he got a first hand look at how
God must have felt being betrayed by him. Both relationships suffered, they
were changed forever, but God never left Adam, and Adam never left Eve. It was
their ancestry we are born into, and we still haven’t learned from their
mistake. Throughout history Godly people have over ridden God’s words and
suffered. Noah the first public drunk, but yet you say you only drink wine,
until you had enough? How did Noah know when he had enough? After he
had...Jonah loved God but hated his people, yet felt compassion or a tree and
was upset when God saved a whole race. Do you rejoice when a real bad sinner is
saved, or do you make excuses for your own sin? Peter ran off when a little
girl asked him abut Jesus in the garden. What if she only wanted to know him,
and he ran. Like we do when facing being a Christian in a secular world outside
of church? Or do we stick with God like he did with Adam and Eve. Ever wonder
the pain Adam felt killing an animal for its hide to cover his sin? Have you
really suffered like those in the Bible or only read about it? Drama your only
testimony....
Life is tough, Jesus promised it. So why are you surprised when it is?
Why is your will better for your life than God’s? If you are leaning on your
own understanding, you are not leaning on Jesus as Peter advises. He also said
what comes out of a man is more important than what goes into him. So here’s
one for your next stylish shirt, “know Jesus, no drama.” And “no drama, know
Jesus.” Drama is all about you, who are you all about? Jesus was never a
victim, and is always a victor.
So never listen to anyone who has done nothing. Reading about Jesus and
living a life for him is two different things. People will betray you at every
chance, nothing knew. But Adam stayed with Eve, and God stayed with both of
them. Sin changed their relationship, only in Jesus, the last Adam can it be
renewed. And no I don’t know all the answers, I still haven’t heard all the
questions. But I know Jesus, and that has made all the difference. Whether
your next ride is across town or across time zones, good advice only works if
taken. Drama class is cancelled, let your new life in Christ begin....
and with a Mickey Mouse answer. “Why”"?” ‘Because he loves you...”
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com