At the tender age of 21, when most are still trying to find themselves, I
had found Jesus. My surroundings, New Jersey were beginning to cave in around
me, as my past life led a lot to be desired. But the one dream that I always
had was to be on the road, and move to California. Inspired by the Beach Boys,
weather I could ride in year round, and California girls, that was my dream.
But only the leaving Jersey part would be fulfilled, at least for now. And
then. After doing time in New Mexico, Colorado, then New Mexico again, 12 years
later it was the time to go to California. I had done my time elsewhere, and
looking back, didn’t realize the trip Jesus had taken me on so I could make it
out here. I had been a Beach Boys fan since 8 years old, he had given me the
California girl of my dreams and a family with her, now it was time to live in
weather where could ride all the time. But in each move, it was saying goodbye,
and leaving home. Going to a place where I had never lived before.
My last night in Jersey we had a wild going away party, only brought back
to reality by having a gun pulled on me. It was time to go. Sadly my parents
took too long to recognize that, themselves moving away from their parents and
home town, I guess it is different when you are the one moving. Leaving New
Mexico for the last time was due to economic factors, I had lost my job, and I
knew it was time to move farther west. I had lived in the west, the real west,
now it was the west coast. My final destination on earth, and this week we
celebrate 30 years here. My home, our home, but somehow it doesn’t always feel
like home, and on our cross country trips we search for the perfect small town
that doesn’t have winter. Last year after getting serious about selling the
house and moving, god reminded me h e had given me all I had asked for, “why
would I even consider moving?” What was this call to move, really a call for
the open road all about? I was living scripturally without even knowing
it...
Scripture tells us we are all sojourners, visitors just passing through,
earth is not our final destination. When God promised Abram a family and heirs
that would be countless, he couldn’t imagine. With a barren wife, both above
conception age, he still hung on, and God rewarded him. He was given a choice
of the land of milk and honey, or the high desert, he passed on what would have
been our first choice, settled in the desert, and flourished. Which I can
relate to, I love the high deserts of New Mexico, but my heart was here, and
after time at 8300’, God said it was time. California was calling, and it would
be my new home. At last. Till death do us part, California, not God.
We are not told about any good bye scene between Jesus and his father when
he came to earth, it must have been hard for both, for they both knew the
future. But 33 years based against eternity is nothing, and Jesus knew he would
return home someday, but with countless new family members like Abraham did. It
was God’s wish that he be reunited with us, without the years of Jesus on earth,
it would not have been possible. We needed a savior, and only Jesus would do.
But just as we are not told about any going away party, we are told about a wild
welcome home party, where all the angels celebrate when we come to Christ. My
Jersey friends kept telling me “you’ll be back,” but I knew different.
Thankfully when Jesus said that he will be back, he did and we will be
resurrected just like him at death. No matter what your current address is,
you have a final destination, and you get to choose where. The most important
choice of your life, so don’t blow it. For our earthly address is temporary,
our final destination eternal. We are told all about hell, why anyone would
choose that I cannot understand. But heaven isn’t, we are only told “eye has
not seen, nor ear heard, nor mind imagined the kingdom of God that awaits us.”
So whatever you think heaven to be, it will be much better. Because God is love,
and will express it in a heavenly way without the burdens of sin here on earth.
But hell will also be worse than we can imagine, and those of us who choose
Jesus will never know. We will be in eternal bliss, in the presence of God,
worshipping freely, while the others who denied, will worship too, but in agony,
confessing Jesus as Lord, just not their Lord. For every knee will bow, both in
heaven and below the earth. And if you do not profess Jesus on earth, he will
not profess you to his father.
When The Beatles sang on She’s Leaving Home, “fun is the one thing that
money can’t buy,” and being saved is the most fun you will ever have this side
of heaven. Jesus Christ is the one thing inside that we have always denied for
so many years, the way home. That yearning for more, to be on, to move on, to
live our wildest dreams in him, we do not see when we deny him. But when we
make him the desire of our hearts, he gives us the desire of his heart. Do you
include Jesus in your plans or dreams for tomorrow? Jesus Christ, someone
inside who was always denied for so many years, isn’t today the day you start to
travel with him? To be ready and excited to go home?
We struggle all our lives to get by, to be free from the burdens life lays
on us. In Jesus we can life on earth as it is in heaven via his spirit.
Knowing that every night when I lay me down to sleep, if I die I know where I
will wake up. All by one simple choice to accept his offer, to recognize him as
God, and to be forgiven. Abraham had no idea what lied ahead, I had no idea
when I moved west. Do they speak Spanish in New Mexico? Aren’t all places we
call home the same?
If home is where your bike marks its spot, I am glad that Jesus has marked
a spot for me in heaven. It’s quite possible there was never a good bye between
father and son, because Jesus never left the presence of his dad. And we won’t
either. Someday we will change our address, until that day stay in contact with
him. And if that something inside that was always denied for so many years was
Jesus, be glad heaven awaits. And a homecoming like the world has never seen.
Abraham knew and trusted God. After living alone for so many years. Bye,
bye.
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com