When asked “what is that bird anyway?” Bogie replied, “that is the thing
that dreams are made of.” Of course you know he was referring to The Maltese
Falcon, a jewel encrusted bird claiming to have infinite value, but it was the
dream of obtaining the bird, after chasing it internationally that was most of
the story. And as a kid, we used to look at dream cars that way. Sometimes
they were part of a travelling car show, like GM’s Parade of Progress, where you
could see cars of the future today. Unique, futuristic styling, more powerful
motors, and a chance to look ahead-to see the future and anxiously anticipate
it. With someday being a key word, as in “someday I’ll own a car like that.” A
phrase passed down from generation to generation, from fathers to sons...keeping
the dream alive. For at one time, cars were the things that dreams were made
of. But today we find ourselves sadly disappointed, as dream cars now have
little to do with cars, but are showcases of modern electronics, blutooth,
i-phone, and other gadgets to make your driving experience more productive,
rather than seductive. With all the romance of a cathode ray tube screen,
replaced by a touch screen, from buttons for radio station changes, to voice
actuated-now you don’t even have to listen to the radio, and hope your favorite
song is next-just dial it up, if dial is the correct word, and listen to it over
and over. No wonder we look back with fondness on what we once looked ahead
for.
I can remember the new cars being driven on transports, covered so that you
couldn’t see what was underneath. Dealer windows covered in brown paper,
announcing the day and date of the new models intro, and going down, pushing
against the windows just to see them that morning. But for days before peeking
into the service department, where they were being made ready, and usually being
chased out when caught. “We were only looking,” we had taken the bait, and soon
describing them to our friends made us and them the topic for conversation. The
fins were bigger, colors brighter, look at that interior, and I heard one run-it
is fast! All things that dreams were made of-and we had seen the future
first...
And then actually sitting in one, the new car aroma was
overwhelming as the smell of plastics took us over, no leather back then, patent
leather, or GM’s Morrokide vinyl ruled the day. Hard to tell from the real
thing, which none of us had seen anyway. Chrome shining until we left our
handprints on it, and leaning over the fender careful not to let our belt
buckles scratch the paint, all under the watchful eyes of the sales force. A
relationship we didn’t want to damage, as they would be a source of brochures,
promo items, and sometimes even models of the new cars, if we were cool,
promising to tell our dads where we got the goodies, and who to ask for. And we
did, but rarely did they ever return despite all our begging. Wide eyed, and
excited, we had seen the future, yesterday and today, and couldn’t wait until
tomorrow when we could drive, and have our own dreams fulfilled. But many of
last year’s dreams would fulfill the lust and desire first, but that was OK, and
it fills old car shows and cruise nights across America still. And I still
can’t get excited about today’s “new” cars. And never wondered why.
Imagine trying to explain a touch screen to a teenager in 1960.
“It’s this glass screen, like on a TV, and all you do is touch the little
pictures on it, and the music changes.” Such was the dilemma John the Baptist
found himself in 2000 years ago. Faced with visions of the future, from the
very one who was and is the future, Jesus Christ, he had to try to describe
things he saw in the terms of today, describing the what he had never seen
comparing it to what he had. Not an easy task. Explain the difference in the
1965 Chevy SS and a Ford Galaxie. I’m waiting, and we both have seen them, yet
words will fail us. All on an isolated island with no internet to help him. So
he did his best to describe the future to us...and what a future it will be,
with daily previews bing provided as scripture unfolds every night. And if you
read Revelation, the only book told that if you read it you will be blessed, why
haven’t you? The future is where we will spend our time, and where we spend it
is based on who we say Jesus is. The final exam of life, we get to choose,
heaven or hell, which should be easy, but has been made hard. So I will attempt
to take it down to basics. HELL-eternal torment, a forever migraine, no light,
a darkness that cannot be explained, and a loneliness beyond imagination, you
have chosen not to follow Jesus, and He honors your request. No God to bother
you, so in pain, darkness, and loneliness you face eternity, no tomorrow to look
forward to, now is more than can be handled. And it never goes away...
HEAVEN on the other hand is eternal bliss. No riding on clouds
playing a harp, for eye has not seen, ear has not heard, or mind imagined the
things of God. So whatever you think it is, it isn’t-it is better. Better than
peaking at the new cars under the canvas or behind the paper on the windows. No
words on earth can describe it-for heaven is God’s home, and now it is yours.
No pain, streets of gold, gates of pearls...only a fool would say no to that.
For only a fool says there is no God. Aren’t you glad you know better? That
you claim Jesus for your savior and as your God? And even more blessed we find
ourselves when we realize the things that dreams are made of is really a
person...not a thing. But will and does shower us with things. Put yourself in
John the B’s place, here is your chance to. Let today be your day of
salvation. Bogie sought a jewel encrusted bird, you can have jewel encrusted
streets and homes. As kids we looked forward to the dream cars, predicting the
future, now you know what God has made available to you. Through the eyes of a
child find Jesus today, and enjoy the peace of knowing that your dreams will
never come close to the joy of reality in Him. In heaven. Sorry Bogie...
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com