Over the years I have won many awards and trophies from winning contests.
Many were from first place, but some were to win the prize I wanted. Which
surprised and sometimes disappointed my superiors, but I was going after the
prize, where I finished gave me bragging rights, the prize gave me what I really
wanted. I had won trips to Cancun, custom cowboy hats, expensive dinners, and
shopping sprees. I had a shelf in my office and wall filled with trophies and
plaques, and one day a few years ago I threw them all out. They really meant
nothing to me, except for two trophies I keep. In a day where trophies are no
longer handed out for winning, but for just competing, these two have a special
meaning. To me they represent I have one and you don’t, and a sweet and ironic
revenge among my peers. They may gather dust but the memory of them is still
fresh.
Back in 2003 and 2004 Calvary Chapel of the Canyons in Silverado had a
Bikerfest, a time for Christian bikers to get together and for non-Christian
bikers to see we are not all Bible thumper goodie two shoes. But also to see
that underneath all the leather and denim beats a heart of love. Except when it
came to the bike competition. There were many classes, mostly dominated by
different Harley related classes, such as Best Chopper, Best custom, least oil
leaking, able to move under its own power, and it seemed many were really after
the trophy. They wanted to win, to show off, “because I have one and you
don’t,” a silent but apparent theme. But there were also categories for best
sport bike, best Japanese cruiser, and best European. The first year we rode
together on my Sprint RS, European as it is made in England. A quick lesson in
geography for some. When they called for European bikes to stage, I was among
leaking Nortons, an old BSA that was a parts bike and didn’t know it, and some
Ducatis, which were not yet the testosterone treatment for yuppies with more
money than riding ability. And among them me. Who could care less, but entered
anyway, one club member asking “Triumph is English right?” Yes, great bikes
still come from there. just as not all Harleys are made in the US of A , or
Hondas in Japan. So I entered, and later they called my name, I had won. I got
a trophy! First place! And with no place to carry it, I let one of my Harley
friends carry it for me. They had the trophy to carry, I had the victory. And
sweet it was, for I was so sick of lifestyle Harley riders thinking their bike
was the best, the most unique, and only a Harley could a biker own. My triumph
that day was a Triumph, reminding them you are what you ride. And suddenly
they thought it was cool to own one, not for themselves, but to know the guy who
won a trophy with one.
The next year it was on my 2002 Bonneville. Which the larger displacement
egos used to call a moped. Until they came off their side stands, their maximum
lean angle, and where even the fastest Harley was still too slow. The jokes
didn’t bother me, I can hold my own with Harley jokes, as well as Honda jokes,
BSA, Moto Guzzi, and any other bike. Only the Harley folk took it serious, as
if any reference in jest was a sin punishable by having to ride one. But when
Euro bikes were called again, I showed up, again not caring, at least a little,
the victory fresh in my mind from last year. And again I won, or the Bonneville
did. Something about a thing of beauty with Triumph on the tank that attracts
people. Go to any Harley meet on it and it gathers attention from the old
timers who remember them and had one. So this victory was for them and me!
With some nay sayers telling me it wasn’t fair I had won two years in a row,
what they meant was they hadn’t. But would again carry my trophy for me. I had
a brief moment of The Wild One in me where I thought of strapping it to my
headlight ala Johnny style, but better to let my friends enjoy their joy of
defeat with my agony of victory. Again I won, they didn’t. And so I keep these
two trophies, won by me, or shall I say really the bikes I ride. And today
Theresa rides the trophy winning Bonneville, you may have a trophy wife, I have
both. And the trophy to prove it!
Last year we went through a study at church “Jesus+nothing=everything.”
More than catchy words, it is true. When you have Jesus you have it all. There
is nothing you can add to the gospel to get your salvation or to assure it. All
you need is Jesus. No Jesus and membership, or tithes, or acts of bravery, nor
acts of behaving. No keeping the laws of Moses will get you to heaven, nor will
church attendance, Bible studies, or being a missionary. No trophies or being
man of the year. It doesn’t matter what you ride. Only Jesus. The other
things are good, but do not save you. Salvation is a gift that cannot be
earned, lest we boast. Read Ephesians 2 over and over, salvation is a gift.
But not forced on us, we have to accept it, by accepting Jesus. Only in him is
salvation found, no other name. And we become his trophies, he has bragging
rights to us. “Look at Mike, and how I changed his heart.” God loves to brag
on his children. Recall one talk between God and Satan about Job? God bragged
on him, and showed Satan his lies mean nothing when the truth is there to see.
He knows our hearts, and how we will react, so he never allows more than we can
handle with him. Without him the devil has bragging rights. And will use any
lies to prove it. It takes the truth, Jesus to change the heart. Driven by the
spirit, we know Jesus, who is the way back to God his father. Our father in
heaven. And we can brag because we know him and the sinners don’t. But unlike
my trophies, we don’t brag on ourselves, we brag on Jesus. We show love,
because when the heart changes, so do we. We want all to have what we have, the
love and joy, the peace and patience. Jesus is the one thing we win that we
must share with everyone. The one prize he was willing to not give up as he
went to the cross. We have bragging rights because he saved us, he has bragging
rights because he saved us! We both win in Jesus!
In life many will win awards and trophies. Some at the expense of their
souls. The true victory in life is overcoming death. With a place in heaven to
prove it, but leaving us on earth to declare the victory in Jesus. When he gets
the glory, we get the blessings. So don’t keep him on the shelf, wear him with
great joy. For behind every victory, every soul he saves is a testimony needing
to be shared. To encourage, to forgive, and to let others see his love. My
salvation like many others, not what we set out to win, but like my trophies
thrust me into an arena I didn’t expect. God is like that, he wants us to share
testimonies. In Revelation, John is told to bear witness, to tell what he saw.
Do you share all the trophies of salvation with others? Or do you claim you won
them, not knowing what it took for you to be saved? In Christ we are all
winners! Not divided by classes, only sin will separate us. And when it comes
down to it, only two classes of people exist to God, the lost and the found.
The saved and the unsaved? Can your name be found in God’s trophy room he calls
the Book of Life?
God has bragging rights to me. Can you say the same? Do you know him well
enough to brag on what he has done in your life? Names written on plaques and
trophies may mean something, Jesus written on my heart means everything.
Everything I need, nothing I don’t. All-he includes everything, excludes
nothing. Remember that the next time when the altar you ride and worship won’t
start. Or needs to be pushed. Or cleaned up after it marked its spot. Only
Jesus saves. If you are not in his trophy room, become a winner today and be
saved. I’ve won many awards, it was only when Jesus won my heart that I became
a winner.
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com
