After the buying process of buying a new home, if the processes have not
worn you out, there is still the thrill of moving. And if you can endure that,
either by yourself, or with friends, or with userous moving companies, you now
can enjoy your new home. Having owned four homes in three states, I can tell
you that there is nothing like owning your own home, until something breaks that
is. Then with no landlord to call, you open your wallet, and the newness is
gone. In our current home, we got moved in, the movers had left and it was
still over 100 degrees. The AC worked, the water was hot, and then it got no
hotter. Checking found the hot water heater not functioning, so we called the
warranty company, and a man came out, checked everything, and found nothing
wrong. Still no hot water. When the old owner happened by, saw our problem,
and turned on the gas. She had turned it off when she left, the only thing we
hadn’t thought to check, the on/off switch solved the problem. The joys of
ownership...
We watched as a young guy bought his new motorcycle. He was excited as he
should be, and not hearing any of the salesman’s words when going through the
delivery procedure. We were leaving, so followed him out, watching as he
blipped the throttle, and then the light turned green, he went to go and
stalled. Barely making it through the intersection before coming to a halt. We
didn’t make it through the light, but when we did, he was still stopped, sitting
on his new prize. I pulled over, turned on his petcock, and you could see the
relief in his eyes as the bike roared to life. Rookies, you gotta love ‘em.
But you gotta love us old, experienced riders too.
I had just picked up my new Sprint RS, and was due, overdue at a family
dinner. My nephews from Maine were visiting, loved Triumphs and were anxious to
see my new bike. They heard me pull up, and ran out, they admired it, I
bragged on it, and one asked “start it up Uncle Mike?” And hitting the starter
button, nothing happened. Was this the electric curse of the Prince of
Darkness, Joseph Lucas, was it an example of it ran fine until it stopped? With
under 100 miles, and brand new, what good was the warranty if the dealer was 100
miles away? I was going through my mental checklist, trying to look cool, when
one nephew pointed at the kill switch, and asked “what’s this Uncle Mike?” And
pushing it, the starter then engaged, the bike roared to life, and all was
well. And that one has never happened to me again...whatever turns you
on.
By nature we argue, the voices get louder, then louder, and soon no one can
hear over the noise, and often the reason we argued in the first place is
forgotten. One kid yells, the other yells louder, the first kid’s volume goes
up, and so on. Sound familiar? Soon we are caught in a web of confusion, and
all you have to do to lose an argument is become involved in one. Nagging is
the same way, and you cannot nag or argue someone into heaven. The law is the
law, and the spirit is the spirit, and at odds with each other. How many leave
an argument claiming “well at least I’m not going to hell,” you cannot force
morals on someone. Only from a change of heart do we change at all. Paul tells
us that nagging stirs up the sin in us, it releases a beast in us, and soon
controls us. It may not be because something we said was wrong, but because it
is done in the flesh. The sting of sin is death, and nagging, arguing, or
disputing only triggers it, then maintains it until no one wins. Suddenly when
Jesus said to love our enemies we can see why, and why it is easier. But Jesus
can bring an end to that sinful cycle, forgive, restore, and life can go on. No
one else, no matter how gifted a statesman can do what Jesus did, and that is
battle with sin and win. He didn’t argue, his death proved a way to win over
it, what better words to hear than “you are forgiven.”
When Jesus took all the sins of the world upon us, he won. Sent by God in
heaven, who didn’t send an angel, or a son, but his own son in the form of a
man, his likeness in a sinful flesh. Yet without sin, he was our advocate for
our sin. And that is good news, the gospel. He did what the law never could
do, forgive and save. The law cannot produce righteousness, only in Jesus will
you find it. So here is a bit of advice to help you along...
Ask anyone in our family our #1 rule, and they will instantly say “never
argue with an idiot because you will never win.” Then they look at me and
smile. A simple lesson to remember. One that works, even when you are the
idiot. So don’t argue, be spirit led. He will give the words you need, and
many an idiot has come to Christ, we were all idiots once, saved only via his
spirit. Think about it, what makes you think you can argue with God and win?
Remember that next time you start to argue, you may have already lost and don’t
know it. And as usually happens, they will change you long before you change
them. Try turning your argument to prayer, or praise, see what happens.
The simplicity of the gospel becomes real when we live it. And a welcome
relief when there is no hot water, your bike stalls, or it won’t start. The
gospel is truth that sets us free, free from sin, and free from luring us into
sin. Today many events will vie for you to argue with them. It can be as as
simple as whatever turns you on, and when under the power of the spirit, you are
already a winner. Jesus never argued, he spoke truth in love. An argument you
will never win against. Truth that will set you free. Something to think
about....and the good news is through faith we can be saved. We win.
Persevered and preserved. And it all happens at a spiritual flick of the switch
when we come to Christ. Like a switch, he is whatever turns you on. And the
ride is just beginning...
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com