Of the five BMW motorcycles I have owned, two of them had their motor come apart internally. On my R90S the bolts holding the flywheel onto he crank failed, and on my R100S both rods came loose from the crank. The R100S had been misdiagnosed by the dealer, replacing a ring and pinion under warranty for me, but accusing me of trying to pull something when BMW wouldn't pay them for parts not faulty. Since it didn't fix the noise either. Within 50 miles of picking it up, the engine came apart, and sat all winter, one giant paperweight of German engineering. And when they wouldn't fix it, and the cost to replace the engine was more than the bike was worth, I quit making payments and had it taken away-repossessed. Couldn't wait to get rid of that piece of junk, that I had once loved-the bike I met my wife on, now just 1000cc of lousy assembly, and bitter memories. And up until this last summer, my only real experience with repossession. Until I visited National Powersports Auction in Poway.
I had been told that this place was huge, but even driving by didn't give you any idea to what was inside. So going in the side door, which was wide open, I took a self guided tour. Which I wasn't allowed to do, and I was asked to leave. Hey, the door was open, why shouldn't I go in? But before I did, while inside noted some interesting observations. This is a 50,000 square foot building, with motorcycles packed in so tight you have small rows to walk between. I counted 191 Harleys in one section alone, a few Triumphs, lots of sport bikes, and the majority cruisers. Don't even ask about the watercraft which were piled 5 high, and even the semi flatbeds full of them lining the street. Something was seriously wrong. And as I looked around, maybe eyeing a bike for a great deal, I was told that all the units in there were repossessed. I would guess thousands of bikes, and all there because someone didn't or couldn't make the payments. But much different than my basket case BMW, many of these bikes were in good shape. Many had new tires, and you could tell they had been taken care of, until it was time to part with them. A relationship between man and machine severed due to I can't afford it any more. But a new type of repo, one that was in good shape, and not trashed.
Foreclosed houses are being found in the same condition. Where friends of mine used to buy repos, and spend time cleaning and repairing, now some are purchased ready to resell or rent, the pride of ownership still present after the family is gone. A new type of poor sweeping the nation. And in San Diego, self billed as America's Finest City-says so right there on the police cars-and truly is, is experiencing a dangerous downward trend. In a metro area of about 2 million people, it is the fastest growing city to fall below the poverty level in the United States! And I wonder how can that be? The Charger QB is making $91 million over the next seven years. There are three Mercedes Benz and five BMW dealers, how can this be? Where did the money go? How can we be so broke, when so many have so much? Am I missing something here? Help! I still have checks left, I can't be broke!
But maybe we really are broke. Perhaps like my R100S motor, the problem has been misdiagnosed. Where we have evidence of one thing, the cause is really much deeper within. A spiritual poverty. And as a people who tend to treat a symptom, we have missed the cause. Perhaps a lesson from history is in order. The Roman Empire was thought to be unstoppable in war-their warriors and armies the best. But unfortunately, they rotted from within. Lack of morals, the last 20 of 24 emperors being homosexuals, and thought to be God, found their selves mortal. And we have the same problem here in the US today. "God must love us, and we must be doing ok, look at my new house, cars, and look at my 401k! Even gave some money to the church last year, Easter or Christmas, one of the two. I can't believe he would desert me now, I haven't done anything wrong." When in truth you never had a relationship with Him. God works from the inside out, we look from the outside, never looking within. We look to the things which are seen-houses, cars, boats, etc., but God tells us to look for the things that are not seen-they are the ones that are eternal. "These things shall follow them that believe," God says.Which things? Love. A relationship with God, that flows down into your family, then your kids at school, and into the workplace. Morals-expressed by your character-who you are when no one is looking at you, or your possessions. And it takes Jesus, without Him you have nothing. And as was so aptly expressed in Best Years of Our Lives by Dana Andrews, when tearing apart old B52's after the war, "the junkman ultimately gets everything." Planes that won the war, now junk. And he gets the cars that you couldn't live without, the house you couldn't afford, and the motorcycles and boats that you thought would bring happiness. Now junk. We're looking for an emotional response from an inanimate object, and then feeling selfish remorse when it can't. Who is your God? Is he alive, and bought and paid for like Jesus, or is it losing value as you make payments on it-hoping to be employed next week so you can keep up the payments? Do you own it or does it own you? Do you treasure values or valuables? Are your treasures values-or valuables? Which are you leaving to your kids as a legacy or inheritance?
America's finest city is broke, and it can't pay its bills. So it will continue to lay the burden of taxes on its citizens, while still spending out of control. The word missing here is sacrifice-and we won't until our valuables are pried from our hands. John 3:16 tells of God's ultimate sacrifice-giving up of His son. What have you given up for your family? For your God? Is your life about to occupy a giant warehouse leaving you empty? If your wealth is based on things, you are already broke-you just don't know it. But it isn't to late to invest in God. Repent today, and turn to Him. See the values in living a Godly life, in a relationship with Him. Set a trend for family and friends of a real investment, a real relationship, where your values bring joy that the valuables can't. Freedom/liberty when in the spirit of the Lord. Something that cannot be taken away, or replaced. More than you deserve, and more than you could ever imagine. Blessings beyond expectation, and a relationship with an eternal God, eternally. Turn to Him today.
Where you store your values is up to you. What things if taken from you today would you really miss, or try to replace? Is your garage full and your heart empty? Making payments but not owning anything? Your life just a lease, renting until you have the funds to own, which you never will. Do your dreams change with each new model year? Or have you turned to Christ? I find a full heart sure beats a full, old warehouse/auction. Fill your heart with hope instead of your life with broken dreams. Jesus Christ-a hope for the future. And a hope for today. Life abundant-remember you could be riding-not remembering. Don't invest your future in a warehouse of broken dreams. Right now are the good old days-don't miss them.
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com