The toaster oven at one time in history was found in every kitchen, dorm
room, or apartment in the Continental US of A, and many off shore retreats as
well. Designed to do just as its named implied, both toast and bake, it had the
magic quality of burning pop tarts, turning bread to multi-shades of black, and
helping the cooker to magically never find the perfect between 10-12 minute bake
time. Things were either removed with a leather like skin, or raw in the
middle. Sometimes both, every time it was used it was like a slot machine in
Vegas, you pulled the handle and hoped for the best. Most just gathered dust
and crumbs beneath it, and took up too much space on kitchen counters, but it
was rare to find someone who didn’t have one or hadn’t received at least one as
a wedding gift. They were a piece of Americana in the pre-microwave era, and
saved many a yuppie from burning themselves on their too hot latte, while hoping
for the best with their bagel. It was the toaster oven that taught many of us
the preference of eating raw pop tarts, of guessing when an English muffin was
done, or why we ate jam on bread rather than toasting it. I even heard of some
college students trying to reheat pizza, but never met one who had mastered it.
It was an appliance that promised much, delivered little, that occupied space
that could be better used, and never worked as needed. Sure to deliver burnt
toast, to embarrass the best of cooks, one morning was a deciding moment for
ours. The time had come, and it had to go. Serenity now.....insanity
later.
On this undated Saturday morning, in anger and with malice towards none but
the toaster, its inventor, and maker, we took it to the back yard, and with my
two young sons and wife, took turns beating it with an ax. And found this was
one tough sucker, like the super human flashlight you can run over, freeze, or
cook, it for awhile withstood our beatings. Cars should be made of this stuff,
but soon the pieces starting flying, and the joy began. Both sons taking turns,
laughing as the pieces flew, my wife getting compensated for burnt toast, and
with each blow a victory was struck for every pop tart burnt and crispy. We
were in our full glory and joy when we heard the laughter from next door, and
saw out neighbors gathered in their kitchen window cheering us on. “Hit it for
me, we have one too!” and with each blow represented America at its best.
Don’t mess with us, we may lose a battle or two, but we will win the war. And
that day, all arguments were settled with the toaster oven.
When we seek perfection, as Lexus does in its ads, “the relentless search
for perfection,” my first thought is they still don’t have it right. It is just
a dressed up Toyota, an overpriced Camry. Look close, it is. But we expect
perfection from our purchases, and we do from God. Was not Jesus perfect? Was
he without sin? He was perfect in his person, in who he was, but he was also a
man. Who for 33 years lived on earth, albeit in a pre-toaster oven world. He
bore all our sins, and no other person could do that except for him, he was both
God and man, fully both. Begotten, unique. But we overlooked how he bore our
iniquities, how if he hadn’t been subjected to Jerusalem rush hour traffic, how
if he hadn’t had to wait in line for food, or walk many miles while preaching,
in sandals, he would not have experienced the every day pains and temptations we
do. Scripture would not be honest in saying he bore our iniquities, for he had
never experienced them. But the fact that he did, gives us hope that we will too
when we trust him and walk in the spirit. He would not have been able to
prepare us for heaven, to endure on earth, if he hadn’t faced the same trials
and temptations that face every man. But he was made perfect in his sufferings,
and because he faced them and endured, we can too. No one can truthfully say
“God doesn’t understand, he never went through the things I am,” because Jesus
did. Jesus knows the pain of suffering, but also the thrill of victory. If he
can defeat the toaster oven the rest should be easy right?
To identify with humans he had to be one, and to identify with him we must
do it through his spirit, the physical being revealed spiritually. Although
faced with temptation and fear, he never gave in to them. He never acted out of
uncertainty, and in the tough times, we see him calling out to his father, to
the point of if there is any other way, please do it now, as he faced death on
the cross. God gave him the words and attitudes needed in each case, and
because Jesus did, so can we. From being born again and forgiven, to dying and
being resurrected, Jesus knows because he has been there, and so we can trust
him. He speaks from experience, first hand and personal, not repeating what
others heard. His words are true......
So while others seek perfection in religion, we have Jesus. Where some
live in legality, we have his spirit. And we can have him and heaven too here
on earth, if we turn to him, and let him guide our lives. He is the perfect
savior our hearts cry out for, and he stands knocking at the door of your heart
to be left in. He is the one to turn to when the toaster ovens of life turn
against you, when the gauge says full but the tanks says empty. He is the hope
when all hope is gone, the miracle waiting to happen at the right time. We had
come to the point that day the toaster oven had to go from our lives. Not
thrown out where another could scavenge it, but destroyed so it was useless and
defeated. Jesus will do that to the sin in your life, it is gone and forgotten
once and for all. But still we will face temptations, as some will still face
toaster ovens. To both we can say with great authority they are gone from our
lives, we have won the battle, the victory is ours. We have found true
perfection in the one who earned it, and can pass it on. Jesus knows because he
was made perfect in is suffering, Jesus knows what we are going through. His
job was over, he achieved perfection. He knows, the question then is simple, do
you know him?
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com