Girls like bad boys. So do other boys, who both grow up into men and
women. I have given up trying to figure it out, maybe one great lesson in the
road of life. But true it is, we tend to flock to bad boys and girls. Maybe it
is like the bumper sticker says, “good girls go to heaven, bad girls go
everywhere else.” And although our perception of bad has gotten increasingly
worse, bad is still bad, and good will eventually win out over it. But not
without the good having casualties, and many sustaining life changing injuries.
And it was out of these bad that I came before I was saved. Sadly too many of
my friends didn’t, or have the scars to prove they were there, while others just
got grazed by standing too close, singed but not burned. We were all attracted
to the bad boys in life, and I was one that they were attracted to.
Now it is not important to list my before Christ sins, but to know I went
against him at every turn. From outlaw biker friends to drug dealers, to
hookers, to criminals, these were my friends. Which quickly became wary of me
when I got saved. And it was my past that I escaped from, but still carried
with me when I moved west at age 21, riding my R90S. Motorcycles, or more
precisely those who rode were considered outlaws, bad guys, or those type your
mother warned you about. But mostly we were about riding fast and having fun,
but with perception being the better part of truth, even 40 years ago, I was
considered bad. Despite my salvation, despite my walk with Christ, two wheels
may have moved my soul, but they also painted me as bad. Which may have been a
factor in being asked to help with the teens under Pastor Hyde. They listened
to me, they liked my stories, and my testimony. I had been a bad boy, they had
been raised in church, and mostly knew the “thou shalt not” gospel those outside
the church thought was Christianity. But they were bad on their own level, more
curious than rebellious, and needed guidance. So they chose me, to some a
mistake, but to the teens a bad boy who knew, who was street wise, and who
rode. Who would attend church, then get on my bike parked outside the front
door. Good church types drove sedans, I rode. And my audience wanted to hear
more about it, it was up to the Holy Spirit to turn what was once bad into
good. No wonder God stays up nights listening to our prayers.....
But the youth group grew, we grew closer together, and some even grew
closer to God. Amazing. But although I was only 6-7 years older, I was still
an adult in their eyes, just a cool one. One they could trust. I listened and
advised on dating, pretty much do as I say, not as I did. Same with drugs,
alcohol, riding fast, and listening to authority. I had changed, and thought
maybe I was done, at least compared to my new audience. But then I fell in
love....and it all changed. And an afternoon visit from Pastor Hyde enlightened
me. I loved him, he was cool, trusted me in the position I was in, with his two
daughters both part of my youth group. Who knows how many words I spoke were
repeated at home to raised eyebrows, but he loved and respected me, and I wanted
to please him, I respected him also. But with a new girlfriend, who became my
wife, the playing field had changed. The old me was still the old me, the new
me was different. And although I was in denial, Pastor Hyde was right. As he
always was. He told me that in marriage I would want to be with my wife and not
with the youth group. So of course I argued, the many years of “I’ll show you
I’ll be stupid” still evident. He even advised me to join with other young
couples, as I would feel more comfortable around them, we he really meant.
Theresa and I, we were the we. I wasn’t a factor anymore. And soon the youth
group, the one I was so much apart of, the kids who used to come by my
apartment, who gave me advice on dating, seemed the younger girls wanted me to
wait until they were older, not realizing I would be older too. My relationship
with them was changing, I still loved them and was in charge, but now any excuse
to not go and be with Theresa worked. Pastor Hyde was right, I wanted to be
with my own kind, my wife. And so reluctantly I resigned, knowing it was the
right thing to do. But leaving a lasting impression on the youth group at
Chelwood Park Foursquare Church. And them on me....we both had changed, and
were changing. It was now someone else’s turn, I had a family. But was still a
part of theirs.
It seems that Jesus was and is attracted to bad boys and girls. In the
book of Mark 2, we find him at a going away party for Levi, a tax collector, who
had been saved. The party was all tax collectors, the despised of their time,
sinners, and others despised by the citizens. And Jesus sat right among them.
Much to the chagrin of the Pharisees, who took note, and asked his disciples
“doesn’t he know who these outcasts are?” And he did know, that was why he was
with them. Jesus knew who and what they were, and loved them anyway. The
Pharisees not knowing they were just as sick, or even more so in their
prejudices. Jesus was hanging out, eating and drinking with sick men, but where
else would you expect a doctor to be than with the sick?
Jesus makes himself available to the sick and hurting, to the
sinners. To all bad boys. He showed how when people are in a bad situation and
need God, he is among them. No prejudices here, he showed the Pharisees also
that if you have no desire to be helped you cannot be helped. A lesson to all
of us, good or bad. Church folk or biker type. He knew they wouldn’t listen,
he understood their prejudices, and their lack of understanding of him. He put
himself where the greatest need was, and where it would be received. He put
himself where there were those open to his help. The same offer was extended to
the Pharisees, only they were more interested in prejudices than people. How
they looked, what others would say. Bound by law, they missed grace. They
missed Jesus and all his blessings. He showed them and us to love not based on
appearance, but on who the person is, and love no matter what. Good advice, and
my youth group was that group. And it was a few years later, married with kids
that I was reminded how much an impact I had made.
Brian and his sister were part of the youth group, she was a
flirt, pretty, and growing up too fast. My firm advice, and background gave
gravity to my words, and she took my advice. The advice God had given me for
her. I only learned this one afternoon running into Brian, who now was married
and had a family of his own. He told me how the group had grown under my
direction, rather despite my direction, and the words and love I had put into
them guided many today. They were good kids, in need of direction, and Pastor
Hyde knew it, and knew I was the one. Yet he also knew when it was time for me
to move on, for another to step in. And today many like Brian have stepped into
the positions abandoned like me and others, being guided by Jesus, led by his
spirit. I had been a despised person, only in Jesus had I changed, and am still
changing today. A work in progress....
Jesus is the hope that all us bad boys are looking for. He is
the one who will stay by us, not abandon us, and love us as we are. Or were.
As Christians we need to recognize this and live it daily. To look past
appearances and prejudices, to love from the heart, not from the reputation.
Let God sweep away all your preconceived prejudices today, and enjoy the
fullness of Christ in your life. Jesus is open to all who let him in, and let
him help. For the rest of you, Jesus knows your hearts too. And loves you just
as much. The man who turned water into wine can change whiners into people, and
use them to change others lives. It takes the spirit, and a willingness to
follow it. For me it was Pastor Hyde who knew my past, but saw my potential.
If only I could let that group know how much they meant to me....I can hear the
stories now being told to their kids, or grandkids. “There was this biker from
Jersey who Jesus saved....” And the story continues...where are you in it?
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com