Tuesday, February 4, 2014

the room is full of invisible people








I first met my old friend Leigh when working at Motorsport, selling BMW motorcycles.  Leigh had an R90/6, blue like the one I had for four days before having it totaled by a hit and run driver, but he had the bigger tank-definitely hardcore, and a Windjammer, silver, just one year before you could get factory colors on them.  Serious touring rider for the 70’s.  He was helicopter mechanic for the 1551st in Albuquerque, and we hit it off.  He loved long rides, I had just ridden from Jersey to New Mexico via Florida, so I did too.  And owning an R90S put me in elite company among BMW snobs, of which Leigh wasn’t.  But what really brought us together was a mutual friend, Jesus Christ.  And so on is frequent stops into the shop, we talked Jesus, motorcycles, and Jesus. Now working a 6 day week, with Sundays off, along with Wednesday afternoon to go trials riding with Gerald left me little time of my own, so seeing Leigh would also be him stopping by the house where I rented a room from John.  Who also rode, and had led me to the Lord.  Do we see a pattern? 
Now Leigh was a bigger man, and we adhered to the rule that you don’t ride other’s bikes, unless in an emergency.  And Leigh wanted to ride my S, he really wanted to ride it, but somehow the rule kept him off it, for both our protections.  But one Sunday when it broke down on the west side of Albuquerque, some 30 miles from where we lived in the heights, we called Gerald, who rescued us in his El Camino, and Leigh had his chance to ride my S.  In the back of the El Camino.  Tying it down, we cruised Central all the way home, with Leigh perched on it, feet on the pegs, looking ahead, wind in his face, no helmet, as was the law.  Not sure if you needed one in the back of a truck.  And for the next hour rode my R90S, grinning, his only ride on it ever.  Somehow riding behind a Windjammer would never be the same for him. 
But on another Sunday afternoon Leigh’s life would change.  He stopped by like he always did, John and I were spending the day at home.  Now John had this Great Dane called Tauna, aka Useless Animal, who loved to jump the wall, and go visiting.  And during the Balloon Festival one year was found 10 miles away.  But on that day when Leigh came by, he found the house empty.  Front door open, TV on, and food on our plates.  But no Mike and John.  It was as if the room was filled with invisible people, we weren’t there.  And Leigh panicked-he thought the rapture had occurred and he was left behind.  And fell to his knees calling out to God-which is where we found him.  Tauna had gotten out, and we immediately went after her, leaving TV on and food not eaten, and front door wide open.  We had left in a hurry-and left the appearance we had been raptured!  A lesson for all on how fast it will happen, and how confused those left behind will be.  But Leigh being saved knew he would go, but still was scared at the possibility of no God, and being left behind.
God will not tell us the time and the date.  To those so concerned, deny Christ and you will see.  For God will answer that prayer for you, just in a way you don’t want.  I rather be looking for the return of Jesus, and His guarantee of heaven, especially after seeing the terror in Leigh’s face.  But God does tell us the seasons, and signs.  So let’s look around.  Rumors of wars and wars-look at the news lately in the Middle East.  Persecution of believers-every place Muslims take power, Christians are killed, but the church grows.  Again in the Middle East.  We see millions being called home to Israel.  We are told of children and parents rebelling-of pestilence, notice all the disease and new flu outbreaks?  How about strange weather-the meteorologists cannot keep up with it-is God trying to tell us something like He showed Leigh that day?  Do we see a pattern?
Yet God is patient, and wishes we all come to salvation.  But the day grows closer, and as the signs point to it, you need to decide now, before it is too late.  Now while you still can, and not go through the horror Leigh did-if only for those few moments he saw how real it will be.  Fallen away, come back today and be ready.  Not sure, turn to Jesus, today can be your day of salvation.  But sadly for many it will only be like Leigh riding my R90S in the back of a truck-not the real thing.  They will cling to anything but Jesus, thinking all is OK, until their ride is over.  Still riding, just not under their own power.  And it will not be pretty.  And it will and is only getting worse until that day when Jesus calls us home-are you ready?  Will your room be filled with invisible people, or a room full of those wondering what happened, or worse yet knowing, but deciding not to go with Jesus?  For Leigh it was just a moment, for us we will be taken up in a moment-in that twinkling of an eye, and it won’t matter who is the anti-Christ, who is in the White House, or what you ride.  Rich or poor without Jesus it means hell, and being left behind. 
Leigh and I agreed on BMW’s, but more importantly on Jesus.  A lot has been said about brand loyalty, who are you loyal to?  If it isn’t Jesus, don’t find out the hard way.  Choose Him today, and be assured of the outcome.  Be part of an empty room, don’t be the one who finds the room full of invisible people.  In the twinkling of an eye...you too will be changed forever.  The evidence is there-where will you be when it happens? Out chasing the dog, or?  Do we see a pattern?  Let’s pray.
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com