It is 1960, and a young mother with two children, a son and a daughter,
goes to the new Shop Rite grand opening up on Route 22. It is tough feeding a
family on a teacher’s salary, so she looks for bargains, and today they are not
in short supply. But with all celebrating that goes on with a new store
opening, and this was a huge store for back then, no big deal compared to today,
and many vendors are sampling their products. While walking down a crowded
aisle,a man approaches, and begins to talk to her, and soon her son, about 6
years old, is whisked off with a young woman. Not knowing what is going on, he
is happily led to the book/magazine section, and told to pick out whatever he
wants-such a deal. He chooses a book about a man and his bulldozer, and after a
few minutes is escorted back to his mother. All the time his younger sister,
about 3 has been sitting in the cart. She doesn’t get a book, and her brother
doesn’t ask why or what happened. It is not until they get home that he finds
out the truth.
It seems this man who approached his mother, worked for a public relations
firm, and was asking questions about products women used to clean around the
house. His mother had answered “that green stuff,” and when he confirmed she
meant Comet Cleanser, he proceeded to interview her. All the time the tape was
rolling, she was making an on the spot TV commercial, and one day her words
would speak to millions across the US of A, telling them how well Comet cleans
and how she uses it. Her husband is amazed and amused, and she will get
residuals every time it is aired. They had just bought a new home, and were
finishing the upstairs adding a den and bedroom, and the money earned while
shopping that day would pay for it all, including furnishing it. And although
it aired many times, I did manage to see it a few times, and there they were, my
sister sitting impatiently in the cart, and my mother answering the leading
questions, all the time not knowing she was going to be on TV. Giving honest
answers, telling her testimony of Comet Cleanser, and later getting endorsement
checks. Big money for then, and at the time I thought I got the best of the
deal, I got the book on bulldozers!
You may have seen the Allstate ads for motorcycle insurance, one with Nate
Hudson of BA-Moto. Nate, or Nathan as we know him, is like one of our sons, and
has been for years. He tells me of how he had a friend who made commercials,
and was asked to do a burnout for one, they liked it, and he made a short
burnout and got paid for it. So impressed were they, they asked him to model
for an ad, and he made big bucks for a struggling, young business owner. And
suddenly there he is, for all to see on a Triumph, not his, he rides a
Scrambler, and has for almost 100,000 miles, even gone to Alaska and back in a
week. But here he is, and fame has found him when he least expected it. Maybe
the most important, and definitely the most profitable burnout he ever did. Two
people, separated by almost 55 years, by chance given opportunities to voice an
opinion, and both ended up getting compensated for it. Maybe the dream job for
any of us, getting paid for just giving our opinions....burnouts extra. Where
do I apply?
You may not be paid for your opinions, but every day we give them to
whoever listens. By what we ride, what we clean with, or where we go to church,
our opinions, many times unspoken will precede us, and leave a lasting
impression. It has been said, and accurately noted, that you may be the only
Bible some will ever read. Someone is always watching your actions, listening
to your words, and willing to comment on them. We are told to be witnesses of
Christ, but we aren’t told when that event may occur. And for many of us, we
are glad the cameras aren’t rolling, and the event not captured on a cell phone
to be used against us later. But many who have been identified as a Christian
will be called to testify for Jesus today, and will not be prepared. An event
will take place, and their reaction will be a Bible many will see, some reacting
“see I told you so, they are all hypocrites,” or “wow, something is different
about them. I wonder what it is?” And we are given a chance to tell them about
Jesus either way. Some will cower when accused of being a hypocrite, and being
told the church is full of them, to which I respond, “it isn’t full, there is
always room for one more.” But the one I prefer is when they see Jesus in my
response, and ask questions. To which God always has the answers I need, just
like he said he would, which you would know if you actually read your Bible,
but for now must assume I am telling the truth. Jesus never wandered from the
truth, but told it in love. Whether at the well with a woman, another time when
a woman was about to be stoned, or when a man was asked about gaining his sight,
Jesus told the truth. So we can depend on him now as we can in the future. His
words still touching and changing hearts today as they have for over 2000
years. And despite all our failures, still chooses us as his PR firm to declare
his story of salvation.
Revelation tells us we are saved “by the blood of the lamb, and the word of
our testimony.” Some may doubt Jesus’ words of truth, but our testimony carries
weight. We were there, we bore witness, and now we can be a witness. And we
are given the chance to bear witness everyday, we just aren’t told when, where,
how, or to whom we will witness. 55 years later my parents upstairs still bears
testimony of my mother’s TV interview, one she was totally unaware of, but was
able to see her compensation. She never did get to see all those who bought
Comet because of her words. Nathan will never see how many bought Allstate
because of his burnout, but he was compensated well for it. We are given the
opportunity to see the results of our unpaid witnessing in heaven. I just know
someone will come up to me there, and say “aren’t you the guy who shared Jesus
and the miracle he did with your heart?” Or “I heard you not backing down, yet
not arguing with that guy who insulted your Jesus, and it gave me encouragement
to be bolder in my witness.” I only know I won’t hear “I denied Jesus because
you were a hypocrite.” That is their choice, as choosing Jesus is yours. I’ll
hear “well done my good and faithful servant,” from God. In heaven. The spirit
convicts, if it were solely my testimony no one would get saved. It takes the
blood the lamb, Jesus, who was slain so we can be forgiven and live, who saves
souls. We just get to be part of it, so we can give him more glory, to be more
encouraged to tell others, and to be strengthened in our walk with him. The
cameras are rolling, you have been given your script, the Bible, and your
director the Holy Spirit is directing your paths. Someone may make a decision
for Christ based on your commercial, your Bible today. An ad that many will
see, but only one may respond to. A grand opening to eternal life, when you
least expect it.
And like the ad says, “white noise is dangerous.” And offers a guarantee.
A pretty good one. But only Jesus offers a lifetime, an eternal guarantee. No
white noise, and burnouts are welcomed. And you thought riding a motorcycle was
dangerous. And I wish I still had that bulldozer book.
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com