While the rest of the motorcycle world was demanding 4 cylinder engines
modeled after the Honda 750, Yamaha came out with a vertical twin. It was not
supposed to shake as vertical twin motors will, and engineering wise at least on
paper it worked fine. But sadly the engine shook apart internally, leaked
externally, and it quietly disappeared from the marketplace within 2 years, the
TX750 never to be seen again. About the same time, just before the gas crisis,
GM came out with the Chevy Vega. At its heart was an aluminum block with a cast
iron head, and steel cylinder liners was touted as an engineering masterpiece.
Until they started to overheat, leak, and self destruct. A car that sold over a
million copies, self destructed, and designed by a team led by Ed Cole, the
father of the small block Chevy in 1955, that grew from 265 to 283, to 327, to
350, and bored out for many racers, was a total failure. How could a man who
designed the best selling, most famous motor of all time, have signed off on
such a horrendous mistake as the Vega? Why if the engineering was so great, was
the product no good?
And while we are at it, who can remember the Suzuki rotary, the
RE5. Promising 750cc power from 500cc of combustion chambers, the rotary was
the engine of the future. Worked great on paper, but was overpriced, styled
horribly-who can forget the futuristic styling and lunch box instrument
cluster? Restyled and painted black for 1976, these turkeys gathered dust.
Seems no one wanted a motorcycle that cost too much, used unique spark plugs at
$30 each, and made put put sounds when backing out of the throttle. And that
produced such high exhaust heat that event the exhaust had vent to rush air over
it? No one seemed to care about how well it handled, the same chassis men would
go onto fame with the GS1000, so why with such great engineering was the product
so bad? Even Yamaha cancelled their rotary version, and today no one had built
a successful rotary motorcycle.
Consider Post Its, if you would. A great product, based on an
adhesive the inventor had no use for. But someone came up with the application
and instant success. In a pre Xerox world a man came up with the technology to
isolate certain things, but what would be its use? Today the photocopier is
standard in all offices, and sells for less than $40. Two examples of great
engineering, discoveries that just needed a way to be used. And I won’t even
get into reverse engineering, but yet today many inventions are sitting on
shelves, just waiting for the right time to be released, or still looking for
the proper need to be filled. And then there were those who bought the V8-6-4
Cadillac, whose engine would cut power to cylinders when not needed. Fuel
economy never got better, the initial objective, and reliability hit low, no
longer the standard of the world Cadillac wanted to be. Fill the gas and check
the water for water injected Olds in the 60’s failed too, as did English
electrics, aka Lucas, the Prince of Darkness, and many other designs. So for
many who consider the glass half full, some will consider the glass half empty.
Only an engineer will consider it a poor design.
It has been said that God has a sense of humor, and looking
around there may be some truth in that. The most perfect design ever, man,
created in the image of God, has turned out to be less than perfect. In fact,
many times he has completely failed, risking making the creator look foolish.
But it was not the design, nor the designer that was weak, for built into each
human is the freedom of choice, and some didn’t, don’t, and won’t choose
correctly. They go off thinking they can improve on God’s design, cutting
corners, saving time or money here and there, and like too men I know, every
time they try to reinvent the wheel they end up with a flat tire. The flat tire
for man is sin, we thought we knew better, didn’t obey, and never considered god
in the equation. We were doomed to fail after that, only a unique warranty
program of love has saved us, and still does today. While GM and others have
cars recalled, God offers a warranty program called salvation. His engineering
is the best, cannot be duplicated, although many tried and failed. And still
do, trying to out think God. But God sent Jesus to bring us back, to honor His
warranty of forgiveness, no matter how many miles or years have passed. No
matter how you have tried to customize the product, God is there to repair it,
to a better than new condition. Using only factory parts, and a factory
approved person, Jesus Christ. No recalls issued, but an invitation to trade
your old life for new. To put the past mistakes behind, and start out as a new
creation. Try that at your Honda dealership. Try to return any special ordered
parts to Chevy. And try to find the success needed in religion, it takes the
factory, the creator to repair what man has damaged, and only a loving God will
do that. It takes repentance, turning from your problem, and turning to God,
and letting Jesus deal with the problem for you. A 24/7 hot line to the
factory, directing you through the problem, not around it. Bringing you
through, and trusting Him more when you are done.
And unlike many car problems that you fix and then turn around
and sell the car, we cling closer to God afterwards. It is in times of trouble
we get closer to Him. Sick you need the great physician, troubled you need the
wonderful counselor. Sin, you need forgiveness, a savior. And His name is
Jesus.
A psychiatrist may look at the symptoms, a doctor look at lab
results. An auto tech may hook your car up to a computer and test the sensors.
Only God looks at the heart and sees the problem, not just the symptoms. He
sees where the product failed, and offers the solution, still our choice to say
yes or no. And He has no history of bad designs, unlike the engineers at
Chevy. Just because you built a legendary V-8, doesn’t insure you the same in
the future. And just because they can explain it, doesn’t mean you will
understand it. But trusting God and His plan will. Today computers, turbos,
and variable valve timing all add power and efficiency to an engine, add ons.
Only Jesus goes to the heart, to the original design, which was perfect to
start, and repairs the self inflicted damage. Warranted for life....with no
aftermarket plans, just plans for the afterlife.
We have found the problem and it is us. But a loving creator
invites you today to fix the problem. Will you let Him? One bad decision may
have led you away, one good one will lead you back. Even if it only a tune up,
maintenance is still cheaper than repairs. Now about that half empty
glass....
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com