Any time you are told “nothing personal” you can be sure that an attack is
coming that will be. For the past few weeks I have been blessed to have ridden
the first two 2016 Bonneville Street Twins in the US of A. The recent
replacement for Triumph’s best selling Bonneville series, they are what the
riding heads say they are-incredible. I have over 1800 miles of both highway
and curvy back roads on them, and outside of Triumph factory testers I may have
more experience than anyone. We were a bit put off by the specs at first, but
the bike is more powerful at all RPM ranges, will pull past 110 mph, is
smoother, much better brakes, and gas mileage for me is in the mid 50’s.
Compared to the almost 200,000 miles on older Bonnevilles, they are an
incredible improvement in every way. My old T100 would be hard pressed to do
100, the brakes are OK, but plan ahead when you want to stop in a hurry, and no
matter how I rode it, only ever got 37 mpg. But it has an intrinsic value, a
character that makes its owners fall in love with it, and like Harley riders,
would never consider anything else. It isn’t about the specs, but about the
ride, and how the bike makes them feel. I have ridden both new and old
Bonnevilles, and both my old ones are now for sale, I want a new Street Twin.
Red or silver. Or both.
But yesterday I ran into a man who thinks his Bonneville is the only way to
go. The new are blasphemy, and he proceeded to belittle my Street Twin. He too
had read the the specs, and thought he knew it all, but had never seen one, let
alone ridden one. He proceeded to tell me how they were slower, they’re not,
the ABS brakes are no good because you cannot turn off the ABS, he really got
upset when I asked “why would you want too?” and stormed away, telling me he
owned a website about Bonnevilles, and it wasn’t fair Triumph hadn’t given him
one to review. Only proving Triumph is smarter than him, for after seeing his
website, he has set back riding a few years. It was bad, as in not good, but on
the internet we all can share our opinions, no matter how far they stray from
truth. But the bottom line was he was forming an opinion, taking an attitude
abut something he knew nothing about, and may never know. Both bikes are
Bonnevilles, both exude a certain Triumphness about them, but with his narrow
mind he will never fully enjoy the new bike. And at least unless he buys one,
will never get to ride one.
So I pray for this man and his opinions, which he makes based on rumor,
innuendo, feelings, and ignorance. The new Bonnevilles will always be what he
wants them to be, prejudice and profiling will do that. But I have ridden the
new ones, and I can say “please buy both my old ones, I want a new Street
Twin.” And I never thought I would be saying that...
Maybe you are amazed, or maybe not, at all the people who think they know
all about God, can quote the Bible, can ditz on Jesus, but have never read the
book, or met the man. I run into them form time to time, and find the more they
speak, the less they know. And can become quite a target for those who do, in
love I hope. It is not unusual to find someone who has taken a scripture, or
part of one, misinterpreted it, and used it to substantiate their life or sin.
They can go on about it, and lately I have let them lead themselves into a
trap. After exposing how the Bible says something, usually what it doesn’t, I
ask them a simple question. “It is evident that you know your Bible. Maybe you
can help me, please explain what Jesus meant when he said you must be born
again? Or Romans where it says all man are born into sin and need a savior?”
Suddenly the mood changes, for they have established their own code of life, a
religion, and don’t believe what they don’t know to be true. They are like my
friend yesterday who thought he knew it all, but had never ridden one. And we
were all like that once before coming to Christ. So many misperceptions, so
many misquoted scriptures, and not knowing the person of Jesus, let alone
anything about him. It takes the spirit to open our eyes, and when he does, the
scales of ignorance do fall away, and we see things through him. And soon begin
to see things his way, and we gain knowledge, and grow in Christ. But without
the spirit to reveal the mysteries of Christ, we are like the man who disputes
Jesus after never meeting him. They talk boldly, but their words condemn them,
for they deny the only one can save them, they deny his deity. And choose to
argue and drag others down to their fallen level, based on studying the
scriptures. So here is one for them, and you. And a lesson to go with
it.
Peter in the garden was asked by a little teen age girl, three times about
Jesus. She saw him with him, he talked like him, and she wanted to know if he
was with him. Of course we know how he denied Jesus three times, and left,
weeping bitterly, yet maybe we need to have a different attitude to those who
ask. He got defensive, he felt threatened,and he might have been, the soldiers
were coming to take Jesus away, but what if she wanted to know Jesus, and Peter
was the one she chose to ask about him? Do we act like Peter when someone
accuses of being a Christian, running and hiding, or do we welcome questions so
we can share our testimony? Some just want to argue to show how superior they
think they are, maybe the little girl was scared, but had heard about Jesus and
wanted to be saved? Do we rush to judgment too often when we could be a bearer
of the gospel? Do we say we love God, but turn against anyone who doesn’t
believe like us when we are to love those who are made in his image? Maybe the
parable of two Bonnevilles can help you, for when someone comes at you, maybe
they are seeking, maybe they are lost, and maybe God has appointed you to share
Jesus with them. In love. Have you ever just walked away knowing “at least I
won the argument,” when the person is still going to hell? Is that all Jesus
Christ means in your life?
Peter would later repent, and on the day of Pentecost lead 3000 boldly to
salvation. In the spirit he was bold, loving, and told the truth. But how many
of us are afraid when that little girl asks us about Jesus? Maybe you need to
get out of church more often and practice what you are taught. For we are known
by our love, and that is how the world will know we are different. That our
lives have changed, and that Jesus Christ made the difference.
Or maybe you are the one asking and get put off by the lack of love of some
saints. Don’t use the church as an excuse to deny Jesus. Don’t confuse the
two, Jesus saves, we need to be saved. We are the church, and for better or
worse his ambassadors here on earth. Only by the spirit will we see Jesus, and
only by trusting in him will you be able to witness effectively. In your
Christian walk as in riding, there is nothing like experience. Don’t be like
the guy who knew all about the new Bonneville, but had never ridden or seen one,
and had already condemned them. We are condemned, Jesus saves. He also rides,
and has a common disease, he likes all motorcycles. And loves all people, even
the sinner, or he wouldn’t have died for us while we were yet sinners.
So welcome questions, and if you don’t know say so. But find out and get
back to them. That lost biker just may be a little girl looking for Jesus, she
just happens to ride. Big bikers too. 1%ers, and others who ride Hondas.
Maybe that is why motorcyclists still wave to each other, a brotherhood the
church doesn’t get. Imagine what a simple answer can mean next time you are
asked, you may be the gospel they need to hear. Someone once told you about
Jesus, isn’t it time to repay the favor?
Bikers and Christians, many have wrong attitudes about us. Don’t add to
them by becoming what they think we are. Love conquers all. If only Peter had
changed his answer that night, we all might be saying “thank heaven for little
girls.” Ride one, then decide. Like the kid’s song, “Jesus loves me this I
know, for the Bible tells me so.” Do you, or are they just words to a song?
Sorry, I can’t hear you....over the sound of the Street Twin.
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com