would you ride with Kowalski?

 Like vice presidents, significant others, and co-drivers, those who are along for the ride never get the credit they deserve.  They either exhibit an incredible amount of faith, just plain stupid, or are in it for the thrill of it all.  Think of famous passengers in movies, Jack Nicholson riding on the back of Peter Fonda’s chopper.  Hutch hanging on for dear life as Starsky blows through red light after red light in LA.  And Hutch returning the favor.  How much courage did it take to ride with Rockford?  How about the passenger in the Charger in Bullitt?  Trying to fire off shots while hanging on for dear life.  Nobody ever rode with Popeye or Clownie in The French Connection films.  Would you get in if picked up by the guy being chased in Duel?  No passenger when McQueen jumped the fence in The Great Escape.  How about your Bonds, James Bond.  Roger does a twist in The Man with the Golden Gun, with the red neck sheriff in tow, and Sean loses his captor when he hits the ejector seat button.  Can you imagine Elwood without Jake being chased.  “It’s a cop car...”  And how about the Good Ole Boys in the Winnebago.  “I’m the driver of the Winnebago and leader of the band.”  How crazy was Frog riding with the Bandit, or was it really love after all?  What you think about that one Fred?  “WOOF!”  But when it absolutely has to be there overnight, would you go FEDEX or Kowalski in the Dodge Challenger?  Too many instances when Mom never should have let him have the keys.

How many time shave you gotten into a car with a crazy and wish you hadn’t?  Or didn’t know or heed the warnings of friends?  Designated drivers may be sober, but are they necessarily sane?  We live in a strange world where if you can navigate a few blocks without hitting anything you can get a drivers license. To drive a truck or motorcycle you must have a special license, but not to drive an RV.  Ever notice the grinning idiot trying to keep his beast in the same lane, while pointing out the sights to his kids who could care less, while driving 45 in the fast lane?  Maybe it is a talent to ignore other drivers, to me it is just plain rude.  I think I would rather take my chances with Kowalski.  I just hope those aren’t bulldozers up ahead....

Imagine you are Peter, and your little brother Andrew introduces you to a man, who invites you along, telling you to drop everything and follow him?  Ever wonder what it was with the disciples that made them follow Jesus, some without hesitation?  Some had careers, some had plans to overtake the government, but each one gave up what he was doing to follow Jesus.  The spirit calling to them, in a way that made the answer easy, but still not knowing what lay ahead.  Today that same spirit is still calling, and we were called and answered like they did.  Maybe not as famously, but we took a chance on this man who claimed to be God, and followed him, trusting him with our lives and our eternal destiny.  He rescued us from darkness, one so blinding dark we didn’t see it, and tells us anyone who hates his brother still walks in it.  Signs like hostility, indifference, and lack of concern for others show where our hearts are with God.  Funny how we are not enticed to follow the dark, yet we live in it while believing the light of the Lord is guiding.  Today while so many evangelize, maybe a look back at one Juan Carlos Ortiz, and the message God gave him for the church may enlighten us.

Although we claim to be individuals in Christ, we tend to walk in whatever the denomination, pastor, or teachings tell us.  We want to fit in, but yet stumble when it comes to the truth.  It is easy to ignore the spirit we cannot see, but hard to ignore the peer pressure at church.   Sadly the world has interpreted the church as Jesus, and religion as his gospel.  It is true he chose some questionable ones like me, but through guys like us he can show his love and power.  It is in our weakness his strength is made perfect.  So Juan took his message of unity in the spirit to the churches in his city.  Who at first didn’t want to hear it.  Dismayed he knew what God had told him, and it was God who brought the churches together.  Much like the lion and the lamb who will someday sit and eat together, it may be easier for two animals than it is for two religious groups of people to eat together.  And they have no access to the spirit!  Yet so much hate goes on in religion, is not a true believer supposed to love others, not just those he chose?  Didn’t Jesus die for us while we were yet sinners?  Didn’t someone take a chance and share the gospel with you?

When Christians hate, or don’t get along, we have an appearance no different than an atheist.  If we pick and choose what we believe, it takes no faith, and the works it fosters are not of God.  God is light, how can a brother hate another and still be called a Christian when he is walking in darkness?  Darkness is the total absence of light, not a dusk or dawn light, no light at all.  Only in God’s light will we see clearly and love, and only Jesus can change a heart so it will.  Something to remember next time you brag “I could never forgive him..”  Jesus did, are you better than him in judgment?  Is your gospel greater?  Even the apostle of love had his heart changed by Jesus.  Who’s changing yours?

Yet many choose to ride with Rockford, get chased by Duel, and even ride with Kowalski.  Unaware of the God who loves them keeping them alive to give him one more chance to be saved.  You can only revive something that was once alive but now dead, except in a graveyard.  A true revival starts in the heart, and is led by the spirit.  It not only wants us to pray more, read more, study more, and fellowship more, but to love as Jesus did, the one great commandment above all others.  Some may live by the 10 Commandments, but there is no salvation in them.  A great way to live, but not forever.  Love the Lord with all  your heart, and love your neighbor as yourself.  No man ever hated himself and loved others.  Until he was forgiven and forgave himself.  The key component to salvation, forgiveness.  So give me and others another chance.  That RV driver may be your son, father, or uncle.  You may have Rockford blood in you, be as cool as McQueen, and have a French Connection, but without Jesus you have nothing.  Would you ride with Kowalski or with others in one Accord with Jesus?

Make your choice soon, those bulldozers are getting closer....

love with compassion,

Mike

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