Trying to explain the differences between a Ford or a Chevy Trophy Truck to a man who has never seen one was a difficult task. And try explaining to a redneck they don't have gun racks. Can it be a truck without one? And who stole the bed, where do I put my younguns when going to the drive-in? Now try to explain how they would race in a desert for 500 miles, and you really have a task on your hands. A what? In mountains and desert, in heat from 100+ to the low 30's, and you really get the deer in the headlights gaze. And that was what I was facing years ago when I worked for a fastener company who was a NASCAR Contingency Sponsor. Trying to get them to sponsor SCORE races. You see, they have no deserts in Cleveland, where their office was located, and although it is a barren city, they couldn't picture a desert, although they did have a river that caught fire! Try that one desert folks. But trying to describe something like desert racing to someone who has never seen a desert, or even off road trucks can be trying. Words such as like or the same as or similar to are used a lot, but unless you have seen one, you can't picture it. Trying to describe 38" of suspension travel, and miles and miles of open to space to use it on are foreign to someone who lives where there is miles of urban blight, and a glowing river. The fact you would race on open land, and not a track was only made more confusing by the pictures I sent-where do the fans sit? What appeared to be a simple request, turned into a major task, just explaining off road to them-there off road meant sitting on the shoulder of the highway waiting for a tow truck. But after months of persistence, and showing them magazines, books, and pictures of trucks racing, and people watching-not in stands, but standing-they reluctantly agreed to do a contingency series-although they could never understand why anyone would want to race in the desert, let alone get dirty-all from a group of people in Cleveland-a place that if you don't live there can't understand why anyone would! Nice weather-when? Crime-24/7. Outdoor activities-let's go watch the Cuyahoga smolder. I think it finally all made sense when I explained it was like driving on their pot holed streets, except the course looked like the vacant lots of urban decay, and then for some odd reason it all made sense. So I quit explaining and took the money and ran! And didn't answer the phone for a couple weeks. At least from them. The same only different-still not sure what they thought!
Trying to describe heaven is like that. Try to explain that we are from a place that no one has ever seen, no one can imagine, and a God that is a spirit and cannot be seen lives there. And once you get there can't return-but then why would you? There are no tickets, and you can't buy your way in. And then tell them that to go there you must believe that this God exists-that you are a sinner, and if you don't you are going to hell. A place of pain and suffering. Now I can dream about a place where there is no pain, crime, sin, or lousy neighbors-but I can't picture it. No place exists like heaven. But maybe I can imagine hell-for I have had lousy neighbors, migraines, been burned, and have endured sickness. But I still can't imagine it for eternity-hey I have trouble with today, let alone tomorrow or forever, sometimes. And yes the Bible talks about both-hell twice as much as heaven, and yes I don't want hell-but I just don't get heaven either. And trying to explain heaven is much like explaining a desert to a city person. Can you show me a picture, or a website? Who can I talk to that has been there?
Perhaps it takes the faith of my bosses in Cleveland, who had never seen a desert, but using what little faith they had, decided to participate. Evidence is good, and testimony can work too, but you see without faith, it is impossible to please God. And heaven is where Jesus is, sitting, at His right hand. More faith, no cameras in heaven. And when you get there, why would you want to come back? But still, why would I want to go to heaven, I only know I don't want to go to hell.
Do you want to go to heaven? It takes faith, and trust-trusting Jesus to atone for your sin, so you can be holy in a holy place, forever. Endless today's, and forever tomorrows. Unlike the world who tells us seeing is believing, God tells us believing is seeing-and these things shall follow them that believe. Just a little faith goes a long way-not to be confused with understanding-which won't get you anywhere but frustrated. Understand heaven-nope. Am I going-yup. Can't explain it, it's that personal. That's faith.
Next time someone tries to tell you about Jesus, listen to their words. They are spoken in love, and although you may not get-how do you describe the indescribable, call out to God. He hears, and better yet answers. For the person who is telling you about Jesus is sent by Him, a message you would never have sought on you own. Ask God to prove Himself-and get ready for the time of your life.
You see you just might be in a desert in your life-and all you can see is more dirt and desert. Or maybe the flames or the stench of the fire is overwhelming-don't despair. At just the right time-NOW-Jesus is asking you to trust Him. Believing, in faith-and having a hope you never had before.
And we are all racers-our race being the human race. Get to know Jesus before the finish like. DNF's are the same as second place-first losers-and there are no losers in heaven-we leave that behind.
Heaven-can't hear it, taste it, feel it, see it, or smell it. I only know I can't wait to get there. Where you finish your race is up to you. Hope yours is a podium finish-on Team Jesus! Take the trophy and run today! If people in Cleveland can envision a desert, certainly we can trust God!
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com