The word makeover has invaded our daily walk with a great impact. We have TV shows where they take ugly people and make them beautiful, shows where they tear down an old home and build a new one-my friend Gerald Martinez in Albuquerque had one done for his ministry, and shows where they even "pimp" your ride, there again taking a car in bad shape, and rebuilding it. No part of your life is exempt, and given the proper finances, and/or connections, you too can be made over.
One of my motorcycles, the 1978 Suzuki GS1000E is a good example. I am not sure of its condition before I bought it, but many original parts are on it. But I can also see where new parts were installed, making it look like it belongs in a showroom some 33 years ago-and runs as well too. Someone put a lot of time and money into it, then someone-me, put a lot of money into buying the finished product. Which is usually still less than all the time and effort people put into restorations. But they have the upper hand, because it is up to them to what level the restoration is done. We have 20', 10', 5', and show levels of judging. Mine is about a 5 footer, but still almost perfect enough to fool anyone not there in 1978. Only the guy who restored it, and a judge at a show would know. As for me-I don't care, I ride it, and love the looks on people's faces when the remember what they were riding that year. And how far technology has come! Grab the brakes with both hands!
But beauty can be only skin deep, and unless you spend the big bucks, for a frame off restoration, there will always be some doubt as to what lurks beneath, or how far the restorer went. Someone will always be there to judge their work, and take a swipe at your pride and joy. And so you take the risk of a pretty face with unseen problems, or over restored to a level never seen from the factory. You pays your money, and takes your chances.
What is it worth? Whatever someone will pay for it. Memories not included in the price. The market for sentimentality is an active one, only you can set a price on that. And with prices rising, you can't pay too much, you just pay it too soon.
Makeovers are nothing new. Some 2000 years ago Jesus promised that we could be a new creature in Christ. New-the old passed away. And that can be scary-pride being what it is, and many being blessed with so much, why would they want to change? But no matter the life level of accomplishment, we all have a common gene-sin. And only Jesus can make us new. Not restored, but a new creature in Christ-behold, the old is passed away. From the inside out, where no one but He can see. But the same old Mike on the outside-visually. The only way to get into heaven-where the new bodies we are promised are available. That sounds good to me, for this morning my back is stiff, and my legs hurt. Soon no more pain-YEAH!
But Jesus also performs a restoration that only He can, and only God can see. Only Jesus can remove the stain of sin. Not sanded down and primed and painted. Not replaced with new parts, and not covered with a sticker. Not like new-you are new! He takes it away, restoring us to a state not known since the day of creation-perfection. No sin-just like it never existed, because it doesn't any more. And unlike my favorite shirts, with stains of life in them, I am clean-no record and no mark where the sin was-in my heart. And then for the first time will it beat as one, with the creator who is the only true restorer. And when judgment day comes, unlike a show judge who is looking for errors to subtract points, I will be perfect-100%! Just because I chose to trust Jesus with my life, and in my life.
The level of restoration depends on how much you want to spend. Jesus paid it all. And you cannot afford not to. Hell is the alternative. No invoice to pay, my life is stamped "paid in full." It starts with a decision today to accept Him into your life and repent of your sin.
Don't you wish all repairs were as easy? And as successful? Only when restored to the factory original-by our creator will we ever know! Both pictures are of a motorcycle-which one are you?
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com