My friend Richard, the ultimate Parts Manager, caught flack years ago when
he bought an old quanset hut house that had been used by the military in WWII,
the Big One. It in a neighborhood where houses went for high 6 figure prices,
he was one block from the beach, it was an eyesore compared to the others. Kept
up, but not fitting in with the upscale neighbors, he caught flack, mostly
behind his back, where the aim is better for our unkind markmanship. But he was
and is a nice guy, and lived with it, raising his family, until the market
exploded 10 years ago. Along came an offer, way above what the house was worth,
and it wasn’t even for sale. Seems a neighbor had a friend, who wanted to live
by the beach, and couldn’t afford the usurous prices being charged, but being a
contractor could buy a fixer upper, Richard’s, and make it into a million dollar
home. Not interested at first, Richard finally succumbed to the offer, thinking
what we did, the contractor would remodel his home. But he didn’t, he just
wanted the land, and built another new home, his investment what the other homes
were worth, but now valued at two times them. He never wanted the hut, he
wanted the land, and built his own home on it. And how did Richard feel? He
now is retired, owns tow homes, both paid for with cash, and has money leftover
in the bank. Looking back, he was smarter than all of us, and patient. And the
deal worked out for all involved, the definition of a good deal being where both
parties benefit. And they did-living happily ever after.
Of course we would have all done the same thing, if only we knew
what the future was going to hold. Even fairy tales tell us of frogs turned
into princes, and beasts into beauties. We love those stories, why wouldn't we
believe in them for ourselves? Maybe we do as so many times we buy a new set of
clothes to fit in with the the trendy crowd. People have even been known to buy
Harleys to hang out with us bad guys. How many wear Charger shirts to give the
sense they are part of the team? Do we see a theme here, how many do one thing,
so that we can belong to another? Call it the rite of initiation, or buying
your way in, but too often, unlike Richard’s story do we end up with old
clothes, an unused motorcycle, and changing teams? When what we really were
after was being part of something, to belong and be accepted. Do we have to ask
“is it really all about me?” Why ask when we already know the answer.
Did you ever find something of value in a field as a kid, and
wished your Dad owned the field? But knowing it was someone else’s, you left
it, not wishing to steal it and get caught, being known as a crook. And years
later going back, and it was still there, then taking it home. And no one
missed it, just an old piece of junk, in a field with junk. One man’s junk,
another man’s treasure. That is how earth appears to many today. Look around,
crime, rape, mayor’s sexual abuse, ballplayers doing drugs, lowest opinion of
Congress ever, high unemployment, and you wonder, has this entire world become a
field of junk? Why would anyone want it? It has become exactly like the one
given power over it, the devil-disgusting. So why would Jesus come here to buy
back the world? What was He thinking>
Of us. Not of the world, but the treasure in it-you and me.
Us. Some buried, some visible, and some not quite discovered yet. He bought
the world, giving His life, not for the planet, but its contents-us! He can
hang out anywhere He wants, and heaven being His home invites us to come and
stay. But for now, He visits us here, not for the beauty of Yosemite, or the
amber waves of grain. He owns the purple mountains majesty-He is that majesty.
He can vacation anywhere He wants, yet He chooses here. Why? Because of us,
His treasure. And like any prospector, He stays until the mine is played out.
Until the last ounce of gold is mined, He will remain. He loves us that much.
Like the man who bought Richard’s house, he wanted the treasure of it, not the
house on it. How many times have you passed up Jesus, based on the world’s
claims, rather than God’s?
When you meet someone today, let the value Christ places on them
reflect in your attitude. We may not all be new 2013 rides, and the roads may
not always be smooth, or even paved. Jesus knew exactly what He was getting
when He died for us, paying a price that seemed foolish to everyone, except His
Father. Based on His Father’s advice, He obeyed, and we His treasure, get the
benefit. Once again proving, you didn’t pay too much, you just bought too
soon. But in Jesus’ case, just at the right time. 20 years ago Richard’s
friends made fun of him. Look at him now. Invest in Christ today, and when the
others laugh, hang in there. You are that valuable that He paid the price.
If only you had known...now you do. Where you retire is up to
you. How foolish do you look now? It depends on how luxurious you want to live
later. Avoid earthly foreclosure. When He gets the glory, we get the
blessings.
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com