Into every life a little rain must fall, and it falls on the
just and the unjust. It doesn’t care if you ride or cage it, the rains come.
And for those of us who ride, they can change our plans, or cancel them
altogether. Waking up we scan the skies, looking at the clouds, and choosing a
route. Based on the temperature we may pack a jacket or a rain suit, but will
make any excuse to ride instead of taking the car. We may not always be
prepared despite the forecast, but it is still our choice to ride....or? We
were just outside of Gettysburg on US 30, when the dark skies confronted us.
Still optimistic, we rode on until the approaching cars were using their wipers,
then looked for shelter. Which appeared in an overhang attached to an old
store, where we joined other riders putting on their rain suits. After getting
gas, we talked with a couple from Maryland, from just across the border. They
were prepared, and when talking with them, learned their weather report had said
50% chance of rain, which they interpreted as 50% chance of no rain, so went
riding. Not necessarily sunshine, but no rain. How many who ride would have
had their attitude, or stories to tell? Of course they had brought along their
rain suits.
Gary, Lance’s brother had just bought a CB450, and needed to go
riding, so we set out for Pennsylvania. Being a new rider, he brought no
jacket, and after 200 miles of Pennsylvania country, the clouds started
forming. Just short of panic, we looked for shelter in the coming thunderstorm,
finding shelter provided on the dry side of a branch bank in the middle of
nowhere. No covering, but out of the wind, we sat and watched the rain, and had
some great talks the sunshine would not have allowed. Renewed by the sunshine,
the last 75 miles home went quick, no rain suits or jackets, we were dried out
and warm in no time, looking forward to more rides, but being better prepared
next time.
We were riding Skyline Drive in the Shenandoah Valley, one of my
dream roads. We had met a man with a Sprint ST like mine, and we followed him
at high speeds, following his lines and using his brake markers. He claimed
this was his back yard, and we were warm in the sun, trying to keep up with him
this Sunday morning, except for an occasional cloud at 4000’. With a wave he
pulled off and we rode on, sun at our left, until we entered a tunnel. And a
strong rain storm greeted us on the other side, which we couldn’t see because of
the mountain. Riding on in rain so hard the bike didn’t even get dirty, we got
to I-40, headed west and found shelter in a Shoney’s Big Boy just as the rain
stopped. Cold and soaked, we went in and sat in a booth, as the others eating
enjoyed our wet look. Hot chocolate and fried food later, we were off drying in
the sun at 80 mph, but we left behind marks on the vinyl booth we had been
sitting in, wonder what story the waitress would tell the next ones who sat
there? There were these bikers you see....
In each case we knew it could rain, and it might rain, but rode
on anyway. Not planning ahead, but riding for the moment. Having known better
didn’t provide us any shelter, somehow you keep hoping the rain has to stop
sometime, why not now? Such was the case with Noah, who was the only man on
earth to find favor with God. All others had rebelled, so much that God had
decided to eliminate His creation, except for Noah, a burden Noah carried for
120 years while building the ark. Not a young man, he was 600 when he started,
he had yet to see it rain, so he may have wondered why an ark? He had never
seen rain, so had never seen a flood. Why was God telling him to build one?
But yet in faith he carried on, and when told to get on it with his
family-continued to obey God. He marveled as God sent the animals 2x2, and then
sealed it up, with only his family inside-all 8 of them. And then the rains
came, for 40 days and 40 nights! And Noah was in for the ride of his life, for
all others would perish in the storm, only Noah found favor in the eyes of God.
And we have trouble just taking a rain suit in case it rains.
Along the side of the road is a good place to meet God. He
tells us He will provide shelter in the storm, sometimes a gas station, a
tunnel, or even just a wind break, and even though we disregard the warnings, He
never deserts us. Jesus is along in the storm, just ask His disciples, who were
so scared they didn’t even recognize Him, all but Peter, who took his watery
walk. In obedience. Today God will allow some rain in your life, to see if you
are following Him, trusting Him. He will provide the shelter, but also may have
you avoid the storm altogether like Noah did. How many times do I have to leave
the rain suit at home and get wet before I learn? How many messages from God do
I ignore before I trust Him? Some storms in life can be avoided by heeding the
warnings, but some we have no other choice but to go through. That is when
trusting Jesus gets us through. We may get wet, we may have to interrupt our
day, even change course, but He forgives and guides us, our choice to follow or
get caught in the storm. How many times have the clouds ahead warned you, yet
you didn’t listen, and got soaked?
Noah found favor with God, it was his choice to trust Him, even at 600
years old. And in an event that changed the course of history, Noah rode the
storm out, safe and secure in the ark. Did you ever consider the conversations
his family had for those 40 days, not knowing day from night as the storm
raged? Did they pray, were they scared, or were they thankful to be saved by
God? Consider the smells and cramped quarters, how would you have handled it?
Better yet, would you have accepted Noah’s challenge from God? Have you
today?
His message of salvation is still available to those caught in a storm.
Rescue is there is you want it. Do you? Remember that rain falling on the just
and the unjust? What do you have between you and the storm? Jesus makes the
difference in the storm, and on sunny days. Trust Him today, before the doors
on the ark close. Heed the warnings of the coming storm, don’t get caught
outside. God made room for more, but only 8 made the trip. And when no room
was found at the inn some 3000 years later, He made room for His son to enter
the world. Some day we will all leave here, why not go out in style and
security-trust Jesus today. The helmet of salvation can include a rain suit for
those who need one. The warnings are there, heed the forecast. You need
Jesus...are you ready for the coming storm? Rain suit optional.
love with compassion,
MIke
matthew25biker.blogspot.com