Based upon what I see as I lane split every day, this world has become one
great big SUV parking lot. Give me something big, sit me up high, and let me
think I’m a cowboy-at least in my mind, and suddenly I am driving a truck and I
think I’m cool. And I must be because everyone else is.....But at our core, we
are a four door nation, a country of sedans, a nation of what is easier for me,
so that I stand out from the crowd while mixing in at the same time. And
history helps us to believe that, as sedans of the four door variety are always
the best sellers. But never confuse popular with the best, or trendy with what
is cool. Today new car buyers are more interested in electronics, ISB ports,
hybrids, and other ideas. But there are still a few of us who consider
performance to be horsepower, 0-60 times, and putting the top down. And sporty
cars, notice the Y, are still important today, maybe more so.
After WWII, the Big One, small English sports cars came back with GI’s from
overseas. MG’s, Jaguars, and soon Aston Martins, Austin Healeys, and others,
with horsepower to match their handling. And a new breed of driver was born,
one who could compete at a different level than the hot rodders, and of course
American car companies took note. And in 1953 we got the Corvette, all 300 of
them, low sleek, it handled compared to Aunt Matilda’s Plymouth Savoy, redefined
cool, and the top could go down. Suddenly romance in cars went from the back
seat to the front, as what women in the fifties could resist a red convertible,
even if they only came in white? And today manufacturers still sell sporty
cars, two seaters driven into insurance rate heaven by high prices, and sports
cars are a dying breed, if only in sales numbers. But as one conversation
between a Prius owner and a Corvette owner goes, Pruis owner: “my car gets 50
miles per gallon, what does yours get?” Corvette owner: “Girls.” And I rest my
case.
Looking at a picture from Hemmings Daily the picture of he day is from Los
Angeles, 1956, how many cars can you identify? And not one two door, no sports
cars, or anything sporty is seen in the freeway shot. I thought Smog Angeles
was the sports car capital of the world, in a town where nobody walks, but the
revolution was just beginning, and soon Smell A would change the nations driving
habits forever. Sadly it still does today as hybrids do the roads, and no one
knows for sure why. But just how important are sports cars? From a social
standpoint they help give their owners an identity. Sports cars are collected,
sedans are used. Sports cars take us to back roads, to curvy mountain roads,
and places outside the city, sedans take us to work, are used for carpools.
Sports cars are the ones that draw us into the showrooms, but most will walk
past the red convertible, wishing they had the guts to buy one, but afraid of
not fitting in, what if I actually had fun, what would my friends say? So they
line up for SUV’s, a generation that once would have a fit if their parents
owned a station wagon, now line up to buy them. And last week GM bragged that
the average new car sold by the Corporation was $43,988! For the same money you
can get a Mustang GT convertible! And not have to carry mindless kids in
carpools trashing your interior....whoever thought a sports car would be
practical too? But sports cars or sporty cars, have their place, as a reward
for a successful career, a sign of arriving, a sign of never growing up, or as
sign of just liking to have fun. We need sports cars to remind us that cars can
and should be fun, and life should follow the same course. And given a chance
to express our individuality, we can do it. And yes, a red Mustang convertible,
2015 vintage sits in my garage. No sedans, SUV’s, minivans, or practical cars.
And like Harley ads tell us, “if I have to explain your wouldn’t understand.”
Religion can be like car buying, mindless and influenced by what others
think. Church should be a place of worship and to fellowship, yet cliques form
easily, and soon the minivan moms have formed their own little clique. Looking
down on those of us who don’t or won’t own one. Religion drains us, takes the
freedom of the spirit away, can turn us into mindless drones. Denominations can
put God in a box, reducing him to the size of man, and instead of us changing to
be like God, they change God to fit their lifestyle. Finding scripture to
substantiate any decision or sin they choose, ignoring the spirit
and its guidance. They cannot grasp the depth or size of God, and may know
John 3:16, but never get familiar with Jesus. They never get to know the depth
of God’s riches, being satisfied with what the church or society deems OK, never
trusting God and seeing the fullness of his riches. Based on their own
experiences, they read, study, pray, and follow....but never escape the sedan
world of religion.
The sad part of never trusting God is never getting to see him in action,
the blessings are missed. When overseas missions call, they put money in the
plate, yet cross over when someone is hurting before them. When asked “how many
Lazaruses did you step over today?” what is your answer? Did you even see
them? At least the rich man saw Lazarus...can you see the need from inside your
SUV? Do you play it safe not sorry when it comes to ministry, let someone else
take care of them, let the jobless go to work, let the homeless find a place.
They give advice, but are incapable of taking it, never seeing the fullness of
Christ, or enjoying walking in his spirit. A sporty Lord is not within their
grasp, tell us what to do, don’t make us make a decision. Yet perfect love
demands one....some go to church, others go to heaven. And you can have both!
But you need Jesus first.
There is a reason that spirit driven churches are few and far between, they
think they have to cater to the masses. Jesus is different, he caters to the
individual, no matter what you drive. And when he explains you can understand.
We can be who he has created us to be, free and enjoying all of his creations.
How many look forward to a heaven like earth, instead of a new earth and a new
heaven? How many are brave enough to follow Jesus rather than the men’s group?
The pastor? The denomination? These things are not bad in their own right, but
if Jesus isn’t first, you are missing out. Maybe you need a ride in a sports
car with the top down to see God in a new way. But are you stuck in a 4 door
religion, that frowns on anyone different?
We need sports car people in our churches, ones who enjoy life, who live
for Jesus,and are spirit driven. I have a rule in life, I can tell the
condition of your walk with Christ based on the interior of your car. Is it
messy, windows dirty, wrappers everywhere? Does it show the nut behind the
wheel is loose or respected? Would you trust the advice of a person about cars
after seeing the inside of theirs? Yet we do based on other criteria, like
church attendance, Bible studies, and the visible, yet God says he looks on the
heart, the inside. How does the interior of your car look?
So we do need sports cars, we need performance of more than MPG, for God
will provide what we need. Nobody sets out to be mediocre, or average. We want
the best, all we can get. Meekness, power to the ground, handling in all
situations, and fun. What does the Corvette owner know the Prius owner
doesn’t? Freedom of expression, to be who you want to be. But only in Christ
will you ever find that. Those who drive cars that fit them and not the crowd
get it, do you?
Don’t even ask me about those of us who ride....we get this thing called
freedom. Freedom in the spirit, promised and delivered by God, no matter what
you drive, where you attend or don’t. It is individual, and isn’t that what we
are seeking? To be ourselves.....don’t be like the woman who brought in her Kia
for service and wanted a rental car. Her advisor answered “mam, you own a
rental car.” Just how important is what you drive? How important is you
relationship with God? Put your top down, look to the heavens, and see God’s
creation without anything blocking your view. The stars at night are big and
bright...do I sense a trade in coming?
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com