As I rushed into the house at 455pm, supper was always at 5, I could smell
the sirloins from the grill, but still yelled “hey ma, what’s for dinner?” after
a popular Shop Rite radio ad of the time. But suddenly what’s for dinner became
secondary as there they were, all sitting and waiting for me, and there it
sat-waiting for me also. It, was the letter Elsie, aka Lisa had written for
Ricky and I, signing our mother’s name to it, saying we were attending some off
campus event for the day, never mentioning the motorcycles we were going to
ride. She had written one for each of us, and here mine was. When my mother
asked “how was school today?” before I could answer, my father yelled “how could
you be so stupid?” And mumbling something like “I dunno,” the room and the rest
of the meal was dead quiet. Please, yell at me and get it over with, but the
silence said more than any words. for I was stupid, just wasn’t sure how stupid
right now.
Sabbott Orrico, aka Sabbott the Rabbit, was the vice principal at our high
school, and had taught with my dad, they knew each other almost 20 years. So
when he saw my note, and Ricky’s note with similar signatures, he called my
dad. And soon, all three of us, including Lisa we busted. And to make matters
worse, her father was our family doctor and friend, who afterwards always gave
me a smile, and would shake his head. Our counterfeit signature plan had failed
miserably, but yet we had had a good day riding. The next time riding was going
to have to wait a long time.
Her name as Judy, probably still is. She was Gerald’s
nurse/receptionist, the perfect greeter. Pretty, vivacious, and friendly, with
a body women hated and men adored, she would join in our conversations about God
in his office. And one day invited me to a prayer time in her church on a
Sunday afternoon. So I went, and they were very friendly. Sitting in a circle
on the floor, they all introduced themselves after singing, and I felt
welcomed. Then they started talking about god, and I noticed I was the only one
with a Bible, and no one else mentioned Jesus, but would quote other Eastern
philosophers in their quest for truth. They weren’t Christians, and although
they talked about God, they denied Jesus. How I could get out was my next
thought, and I somehow endured the afternoon. But it was different in Gerald’s
office that next week, as Judy and her new age friends had been revealed, and
soon she left on her own, still looking for God. When all the time Jesus was
right there with her. She was as fake as our mother’s signatures, and she had
been found out. How stupid could she be?
Talking about God, and even having prayer meeting doesn’t make
you a Christian. Or neither does wearing a cross or going to church. Many are
led astray, and many buy into the lies of Satan. 2John warns us of these
people, don’t even let them into your home, or tell tehm God bless you. Cut
them off, they will convert you, or cause confusion and doubt long before you
convert them. Some will claim you must be baptized to be saved, what about he
thief on the cross? Was Jesus’ last miracle a fake? Wouldn’t He have said so?
Some come on bikes, even have Jesus Christ in their name, but deny His deity,
and formulate their own gospel. Counterfeit, just like Lisa’s signatures for
us. But to the uninformed, it all sounds and looks good. Some pass out free
newspapers, and deny Jesus all together, even claiming not to be a Christian,
yet rewriting the Bible changing a few words to deny Christ. So beware-the
charlatans are out there, wolves in sheep clothes. And why scripture tells us
we are to be wise as serpents, but gentle as lambs. Just like Jesus. The real
thing.
The Bible tells us to seek and we shall find. Depending what
you are looking for will lead to what you find. Acceptance, trendiness, and
fake love, you’ll find it in these lies. Looking for love, the answer is
Jesus. He is love, also the way-none other, the truth, not a truth, but the
truth, and the life. You are dead without Him, you just don’t know it. But
your life is filled with zombies, spiritually dead others who are looking, but
not for Jesus. Some day we will all stand before Jesus, and if our names are
found in the book of life, we will be greeted into heaven, just like the thief
on the cross. But when our name is not in the book of life, it means hell. No
mistakes, no two names looking alike to be confused. No counterfeiting. No
matter how successful, pretty, rich, and popular you were, without Jesus it is
hell. He says it plainly, deny me on earth, I will deny you in heaven. Claim
me on earth, I will claim you in heaven as my own. Beware of counterfeits that
sound like, look like, or act like. Only one could ever prove the claim of who
He said He was. And is.
Don’t wait until the meal is set before you to find out how
stupid you can be. Trust Jesus today. Some are told “wait until your father
gets home.” Christians believe wait until we’re home with our Father. The
choice is yours. Don’t be among those that say “how could I have been so
stupid?” You may never know who is watching, be assured Jesus always is.
love with compassion,
electronically signed,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com