I have a long time friend who I haven’t seen in awhile, and I thought of
him yesterday. Rather I was reminded of him, when visiting with another man.
Both of these men love motorcycles, and devour the motorcycle magazines each
month. They can tell you the specs, the colors for each year, what its 1/4 mile
time is, and how it compares to other bikes in its class. They know all the
specs, down to details even the factory has to look up to confirm, and just by
listening to them in conversation, or even overhearing, you would agree, both
these men know all about motorcycles. You would consider them to be experts,
and you may even seek them out for advice. But when talking with them, a fact
would appear that just may change your opinion of them, and their viewpoint on
information. Neither of them rides very much, and both ride older models, both
considered low end bikes by those who ride. And yesterday my suspicions were
confirmed when showing this friend the new Thruxton R. All he talked about was
how he wanted one, gotta have the R model, it has all the goodies, and on he
would go, regurgitating what Cycle World said, or Motorcyclist proclaimed. And
when I would come by on other bikes, he knew why they were inferior to it, and
why it was the only bike he was interested in. But his bubble of knowledge
burst yesterday, when he sat on it. I cannot tell you enough superlatives about
the new Thruxton, and I have ridden one, and will for the next 1000 miles. It
wasn’t like the articles said, no rear foot pegs, it is a single rider bike.
The red caught him off guard, all the bikes in the previews were silver. And
sitting on it, he discovered without a ride, this was not the bike for him.
Even if he could convince his wife, he knew it was not for him. All the info
was valuable until he threw a leg over it, and found it was more bike than he
would ever be a rider.
On the pilot for Star Trek, the William Shatner version, pre-Shatner even,
the Enterprise is called to a planet, Talos IV. Where they find a crew that had
wrecked 17 years early intact, to their surprise. But soon come to find it is
all an allusion, and when confronted, the beautiful woman the Captain falls in
love with is revealed to be a hideous figure. Alive yes, but found in the
wreckage, they put her back together. She was functioning, but they had never
seen a human before and had no idea of what one looked like. Where do the eyes
go, the arms? Even the upper body, or is it lower? Up or down, left or right,
they had no example to follow, so they made her functional, but hideous to
others of her type. She had been built to specs, just not the factory specs of
humans. And I wondered, how would others find her? Imagine an article written
about her, the miracle of her survival, and being put back together. What would
we think based on words, and would we be disappointed when we saw her picture?
You see some ride, some review, while others just read about it. Based on
specs, she functioned well, but on the track of life, would never run the times
promised.
So there are those that read all about it, some who actually ride and can
experience life, and those that are still reviewing. You see I also read about
the Thruxton, and got excited. To the point I even sold both Bonnevilles, which
shocked friends because they knew how much I loved them. But one ride showed me
things what no article could, that no photo could reveal. While some were
content to look at the pictures, I wanted to be in them. I wanted to experience
the ride, not just listen to others tell about it. I wanted the truth, the
facts, the experience. I wanted all the bike I could get so I could make a
decision. Which carries over in my life with Jesus. After 40 years of being
saved I may not have seen it all, but I have seen a lot. I have read the Bible,
looked at the pictures, visited churches across America, and met famous people.
But nothing compares to meeting Jesus, you can read all about him, be in studies
and Bible college, but knowing about him in no way compares to knowing him.
While others quote scripture, I choose to live it. When someone talks of the
trials and tribulations, I have been there, and in them seen a side of Christ
that those who haven’t suffered seen. In being sick I saw him as the great
physician. In times of doubt saw him as the great comforter. When I didn’t
know what to do, he gave me wisdom so I could make the right choice. I don’t
live life to review Jesus, but to experience him first hand. To shout with joy
when I think of him, and cry out to him when in trouble. To be myself in all
situations, not what a religion tells me I should be. I meet him daily in
places and events I am not prepared for, and find that when I do, I can then
compare him to his Book, and find myself approved. Guided by the spirit,
confirmed in his word. Not the other way around.
Too many put faith in what the Bible says, but not in the person in it.
Carefully trimming scripture to provide a picture of who they want God to be.
And sometimes when encountering him leave disappointed. He didn’t cave in to all
their demands, times were tough and they didn’t get their way. Life turned out
different than the man hiding behind the pulpit said, so they changed Gods.
Fortunately God never leave us, gives up on us, or loves us any less, or any
more. Read the reviews of God some day, and many will be disappointed. When
they want him to change for them, they find they are supposed to change for
him. What kind of a lousy God would he be if he was different all the time?
Would he be no better than the woman put together after the crash? Or would the
illusion of him be your reality?
Find truth in the spirit, who guides you to Jesus. Then read all about him
in the Bible. But get out and ride the life he offers you. Watch as the
scriptures come alive in your life, and while others quote them, you have seen
them first hand. You have a testimony to share, to encourage others, and when
shared in the spirit, we see souls saved and lives changed, just like he
promises, by the blood of the lamb and the word of your testimony. What good is
just reading the Bible if you never live it? What good is being a Christian if
you don’t experience Jesus Christ first hand? Are you reading when you could be
riding, and living life based on others reviews of him? Where is Jesus in your
life?
I want all I can get from life in Christ, I want to go where no man has
gone before. But I want the spirit to guide me, to be the Captain Kirk of my
Enterprise. I want to ride the bikes so when I read the review I can tell if
they really rode the bike, or just listened to someone who did. I can tell, and
so can others. We don’t all need race bikes for the street, or 150 hp to
cruise. But we all can ride the ride Jesus has chosen for us, not from
articles, but getting it directly from him. Riding the new Diavel X last week,
I didn’t need my feet to blow off the pegs at 100 mph to know it wasn’t the bike
for me. But I have ridden one and now I know. Get out and ride, ask Jesus to
challenge you, to show you all you desire. And when you find him to be that
desire, the blessings flow even more freer. You are in the picture with him,
and soon the photographs of a moment in time, become a movie of life in action.
A life filled with joy and excitement, because you let the sprit guide you,
instead of being spirited by a guide. God wants to bless you, are you ready for
the ride?
Or are all your rides based on reading? There are many bikes, and many
rides. Many roads, and many experiences waiting, will you include God in them?
Will you ride the ride or read the book? Someday you will be confronted, not
what you know but who you know will make all the difference. Some read, some
ride, some review. I know Jesus personally, do you?
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com