America was a much different place 55 years ago. We were still basking in the victory of WWII, smarting from the pain of not winning in Korea, and had endured ten years of automotive growth, despite labor disputes, minor recessions where unemployment spiked, and a shortage of steel. We were the most prosperous country in the world, and our goods displayed the technology and ingenuity that American products were known for. Name an industry, we owned it, from science to steel, it was USA #1! And growing! And a burst in 1955 in auto sales, to an all time high was led by General Motors, the largest corporation in the world, who was selling over 50% of the cars sold here, with Chevrolet alone taking an almost 28% of the market! A GM vice president, Charles Wilson is even misquoted in his famous "what is good for GM is good for the country, and vice versa" statement before congress. And in a country with a $62 billion budget, less money than the Obama administration bought the new GM for-aka Government Motors, and revenues of $60, he may have been right. For as GM went, so did the US of A. Let's hope it doesn't today.
1955 was the first year of the Hot One, the '55 Chevy. With its first modern V-8, it stormed the market, and set a precedent that would last for over 50 years, that being its small block V-8. From 265 cubic inches, to 400, with stops at 283, 327, and 350-just mention the numbers and motor heads know what you're talking about. A great time to be alive, and a great time to own a new Chevy. When ad men had their way with words, coming up with hyperbole to excite the buying public over such features as "anatomic design," "hydra-coil front springs," "magic action brakes," and "picture window visibility," GM, Ford , and Chrysler couldn't wait to separate you from your hard earned cash of $4100 per year average. Things were simply "motoramic!" With a new car costing about half of that. And you could park it in your new modern home that cost about $10,000, and mail in your payment-36 months the max, with a 3 cent stamp. Things looked good, and a nation looked forward to the future-because unlike the thirties where prosperity was just around the corner, the corner had been turned, and we were accelerating at a jet like pace into the future.
But as a nation grew in prosperity outwardly, it still starved spiritually. A young evangelist Billy Graham, started Chrstistanity Today magazine in 1955. A year after comparing communism to the anti-Christ, "either Christianity or Communism must die-they are at odds, "he was filling stadiums and auditoriums full of people seeking more than GM could offer-offering them Jesus Christ. And eternal life. Compare that to a limited warranty, usually 90 days on your new car, and here he was offering eternal life-a lifetime warranty! Standard with every salvation. But like those who were Ford men or Chevy men or Oldsmobile families, not all adored Billy. President Truman called him "a counterfeit," fundamentals called him too liberal because he took a stance against anti-abortion violence, and he has been castigated as being too political because he has associated with presidents and politicians.
The same type of people Jesus associated with, showing them love and forgiveness, and preaching repentance. A simple message,that needs no advertising mantras, that is simple-you sinned, you need forgiveness, and Jesus is the way! No payment books, no magic mirror finishes, and no new models next year. The simple gospel, told by Billy and others like him around the world.
You can still see the USA in your Chevrolet, but today we see a much different USA. But a still the same Jesus. Those Hot Ones of 55-56-57 are still hot today, and worth hundreds of times more than new, but the price Jesus paid is still worth more-even before inflation!
And heaven awaits, with a place no adman can describe, for "eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor mind imagined the things of heaven!"
Jesus Christ-a winner from the start! His word, a model that needs no updating! And a message that no ad campaign can improve on! LOVE! And as always, what is good for Jesus, is good for the USA! Not vice versa. And you can quote me on that!
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com
