I was explaining to my older son how we used to have to do regular
maintenance on our bikes when I was his age. Tune ups including valve
adjustment, plugs, points, condensors all being replaced. New chains every 6000
miles also, if they didn’t break first, taking engine cases with them. Cables
that wore out and had to be lubed, and tires that would only go 6000 miles. It
seemed the manufacturers had the planned obsolescence dialed in on us, as the
average rider did 6000 miles per year, thus assuring at least one trip to the
bike store per year. Or more in my case. On our $600/month income, so much
went to bikes, it seems maybe some things don’t change over the years, but
motorcycles have. Today with electronic ignitions, ride by wire, and belts and
o-ring chains, we can spend more time riding than repairing. Tires can go
12-14,000 miles, tune ups 15-20,000 on some bikes, and Teflon lined cables don’t
need to be lubed ever. So where does all our hard earned money go?
Mine still goes to motorcycles, more precisely motorcycling. Where before
weeknights were spent getting ready for Saturday rides, now just a quick check
of the oil through a sight glass, fill up with gas and off you ride. And as
bikes have become more reliable, the miles can now pile up faster. Of course
the days of new Honda 750’s for $1595 are gone, Gold Wings, Harleys, and Ducatis
all have models over $30k, and $20,000 out the door is not unusual for a new
ride. Maybe the old days were worth remembering, but this weekend with $1.89
gas, and getting out of the city, I found riding with an old friend fun again.
No not Theresa, she isn’t old, but the bike I was on was, for me. In this time
of six figure cars, five figure bikes, and cheap gas, I chose to spend 4 days on
a 6 figure motorcycle, my 2006 Tiger with 101,250 miles on it. While its
younger brother sat home under the garage under a cover. For over 10 years and
48 states we have ridden together, and it was about time to go for a ride.
Which we did flawlessly...averaging over 43 mpg, and never going over 100.
Smooth as an old ride can be, there is something about riding with an old
friend, where you know the sounds, the noises, know when gas is needed without
looking at the gauge, and being respected by younger lesser mileage bikes. Just
under 1000 miles in 4 days, it starts, runs, handles, and gets me where I need
to go. What else could I ask for? Oh, and it got me back this time.
A proud testament to whoever designed, engineered, built, and maintained
it. Like it was designed, to be ridden. A plan that God outlines in Isaiah,
for our lives. When God comes into our lives, he forgives us, then he begins to
change and reconstruct our lives. We find value where we once were found
useless. High miles don’t matter, but the rigors of a rough life with no
maintenance show through on many, but yet God changes us from the inside out.
Pretty faces don’t count as much as a pretty heart. He begins to straighten our
rides, level the hills that once caused us to stumble and fall. The valleys we
once dwelt in are now filled in, and like any road engineer knows, once leveled
out these same roads provide safer travel. Our hearts start to change, as we
don’t live like we used to, and people see a difference in how and where we
ride. The mountains of pride that once kept us from Jesus now are eliminated,
and when they do creep up, he is there to get us over and continue on. When we
hit lows, he is there to lift us out and we can go on, not having to look back.
Forgiveness is a wonderful thing, especially after we have forgiven ourselves,
too. We find being humbled is better than being humiliated, and the things we
once did we do no longer. We are a new creature in Christ. But later in Isaiah
40, we find how the grass withers, flowers fall, and time passes. That no
matter how our past was, it is today that matters, that no matter how many miles
we have on our ride, today’s miles are the ones that count.
But the word of God, Jesus Christ endures forever. While some change rides
for new ones, or quit altogether, Jesus is always there. And spending time on
my 6 figure motorcycle reminded me of the importance of how Jesus never leaves
me. Not every ride ends as we planned, but when Jesus is along we know we will
make it, and not on our own. We need him every mile of the way, and along at
the stops in between too. Friends, family, and even motorcycles will fail us,
God never does. A promise to remember, no matter the road you are on. Maybe
today you need a tune up, to spend time with the spirit, to find out what went
wrong, but really how to get back. Jesus is the answer. Maybe the tires are
worn, about to blow, he can give you new treads and a road to ride them on.
Maybe you feel like a high mileage bike, worn out and tired, and less of a
person compared to a new ride, don’t forget the testimonies God has given you,
the miles it has taken, and the rides he went with you on. And how important
they were. If you never leave the garage, you will never break down far from
home. If you never leave the church grounds, you never see God in action in
lives, real action, not learned but lived. Maybe that is why my old Tiger stood
out this weekend, and was a perfect ride to remember all Jesus has done in my
life, and all he continues to do. To some it may seem foolish, ride a bike with
over 100,000 miles on it for a thousand more, in only 4 days, but to God it
makes perfect sense. A time of renewal and refreshing, of appreciating the old,
and looking ahead to the new. A woman customer at Mercedes Benz, who could
afford any car she liked, once told me she liked her older car, she felt
comfortable in it. They had gone many miles and places together, she was
familiar with it, and trusted it. How many can say that of our older
motorcycles? Of our walk with God?
We can never do it on our own, it takes the spirit to guide and provide.
And when we ride with him, no matter the road, he gets us through. Even old
roads get potholes, and they get filled in or repaved. Motors get rebuilt,
bikes traded. Trade your sin and discontent today for life and joy.
Forgiveness found no other place. One look in the mirror ought to be enough to
see where God has brought, and how far. Old bikes, old roads, and old friends
are readily discounted or traded for new, don’t make the same mistake with
Christ. You may be that 6 figure ride just wanting to get out and
ridden....wanna ride?
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogpsot.com