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It took a series of serious motorcycle accidents 40 years ago next month to
finally figure out why I walked with a limp. The specialists prodded, tested,
drew blood, and x-rayed their hearts out on me, but never could figure it out.
Most blamed it on my having rheumatoid arthritis at age 6, which is the story I
always accepted. Until Gerald introduced me to chiropractic, and had the
audacity to measure the length of each of my legs, and found one was 16mm
shorter than the other. And recommended a heel lift for awhile, and suddenly I
walked straight-literally. And when I took off the lift hidden in my left
shoe-hint, guess which leg is shorter?, I felt like I was walking with one foot
up on the curb and the other off. But lifestyles prohibited me from wearing it
all the time, and today I still limp, and after my heart surgery, I occasionally
lean to the left, fortunately having nothing to do with my outlook on life. But
like many others, I limp through life, somehow making it to where I am
going.
When riding I have miscalculated how many miles of gas I had left, and have
had to alter my speed just to get to the next station. I rode across Oklahoma
once at 40mph, in 6th gear, belly on the tank, making it on fumes, thankful for
the grace of God that got me there, while trying to ignore the cars yelling at
me, or nearly hitting me as they passed. I coasted down the hill into Los Gatos
on my Thunderbird Sport, barely making it to the Texaco station before a red
light forced me to stop and push the last 100 feet. And somehow put 4.5 gallons
into a 4.2 gallon tank. Did the pump lie or was I emptier than I thought? And
did I ever learn? Today we have computers in cars telling us miles till empty,
so I know how far I can go before I start to push, and they too have let me
down, another story, but I have learned that arriving even if I have to push the
last few feet is better than not arriving at all. That limping home is far
better than standing on equal footing along side the road.
So through the wonder of computers, cars now have a mode built into them, a
limp home mode. If the computer notes something potentially dangerous about the
cars drivetrain or engine, it takes away the throttle, sloes you to about 30
mph, and allows you to limp home, preventing you from doing any damage to your
car. Which the first time it happens to you can be freaky, as I used to get
many calls, “my car lost its power, it won’t go fast...” and soon it was towed
in and the problem fixed. But it kept many off the side of the road, fulfilling
its purpose. You got home, just not when and how fast you wanted to. But
despite flashing lights, fuel gauges, miles to empty messages, and petcocks, we
still run out of gas. No one yet has come up with a way to smarten up the mind
of man, no matter how many warnings we put in front of us. And if the truth be
told, the E on the gauge stand for empty, NOW!
There is an old adage that religion is for women and children. I have had
people tell me that they will turn to God after they are finished doing the
things they want to do. But as I found out, you have no control over when you
die, only God does. I had no plans to go into a coma, and have open heart
surgery, so I am glad I trusted Jesus years ago when I heard His voice. But
many wish to hang on, thinking with them it will be different, they can overcome
it at the last minute, and I wonder, why when they have trusted and worshipped
themselves all their lives, would they turn to God at the last moment? Why
wait, why limp home, or better yet, not make it at all? Many are told that the
only way to heaven is through Jesus-true, but He is also the way of life, and
you can improve your days on earth by trusting Him now. That is a choice you
can make. I did, and many have, and enjoy a life in Jesus. But some are saved,
yet carry on like they aren’t, no evidence of a changed life, and limp through
life spiritually. Their walk has a limp it doesn’t have to have, their choice.
But we find out that like Jacob, who wrestled with an angel, that God gave him a
limp, so that every step he took he would remember that day, and turn to God.
No extra time at the gym, no workouts, and no heel lift prevented him from
limping, so he chose to lean on God. He knew why he limped, but he also knew
who to lean on.
You may not notice your limp, but others do, and God certainly does. Many
will make excuses, and barely make it into heaven, limping through life on their
own understanding, but still making it. Others with a same limp will turn to
God and lean on Him, acknowledging Him as Lord, and not just Savior. He will be
the crutch they need, and will add life to their lifestyle. They will never
have to park in a handicap zone, for although afflicted, they carry about Jesus
in their body, and He gives them the strength to make it through the day. They
may limp home to heaven, but they do not live their lives in a limp home mode.
The needle may hover just above E, but they never run out. And their lives
always show enough fuel to get them where they are going. For some it may take
years of testing, specialists who fail, or maybe an accident to get you to do
something about it. Why not just listen to God, realize you are a sinner, and
you cannot limp home without Him? That you don’t have to suffer foolishly when
the answer is there all the time in Jesus. Or would you rather go through life
in a limp home mode, limited in all you do no matter how much throttle you give
your life? Ever figure why some who are handicapped have more energy and live a
better life than those who aren’t? Maybe Jesus does make a difference.
Consider Him now before you push your 900 pound cruiser which is out of gas,
although it shows some miles left till empty. The bike knew more than the
gauge, and more than the warning. You have been warned, will you ride home or
limp home? Suddenly the smallest hill becomes a large mountain when pushing up
it, so why push it at all?
We will all walk with a limp some day, some when walking, some in the life
we choose. No need to limp home if you don’t have to. Live life now the way
God planned it, and lean on Him. Its OK, He can handle the extra load, can
you? I know what it is like running out of gas with the station in sight, don’t
make the same mistake about Jesus. The capacity of the tank makes no difference
if it is empty. A lesson better learned now, than on the side of the road.
Still walking with that limp? Time to see what that Check Jesus Light is
flashing for. Pushing with a limp is even harder.
love with compasson,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com