I am and always have been very careful who I ride with. From bad drivers
to bad cars, to bad odors, to bad shocks, to bad directions, and bad courses
chosen, I prefer to drive or ride alone. My wife feels the same way, but in
one instance, one momentary moment of being nice, she was reminded of why. We
were visiting her sister in Novato, and some other family was there also. Being
true yuppies, they decided to go to Muir Woods, while at the same time I had in
my possession an article describing the 10 steepest roads in San Francisco. I
had my favorite niece and nephew, and my two sons with me, and we followed them
down the 101. But as they moved over for their exit, we sped past, waving and
smiling, on our way to San Francisco, and the hills that awaited us. The look
on Theresa’s face told it all, as she had to endure three hours of nature, while
we were faced with having fun. Some people never grow up, some are born old,
she missed the kiddie car by that much...
When you think of the hills in San Francisco, Lombard Street comes to mind,
but it wasn’t even on the list. Closed to traffic now, it was a tourist trap to
all but those who lived on it, we took the roads around it, and an E-ticket ride
was in order. Going up was fun, looking at the cars parked sideways, you wonder
how they don’t flip over, but going down, that was scary, and took some skill.
Many of the downhill routes had stop signs at the top, where you couldn’t see
over the hood of the car to where the road was. You proceeded cautiously,
hoping for the best, to the natives no big deal, to us all screaming and
carrying on, it was better than the Matterhorn. And it only went on for over 2
1/2 hours, by which time we needed to be home to eat, face the wrath of not
being a good follower, and show sympathy for Theresa, who wanted to have been in
our car with us. An error in judgment to my knowledge she never repeated, so
when you volunteer to drive, we rather leave the driving to me. Sorry, but we
can make room for you, just hang on....
The wheels on the bus may go round and round, but it only goes where the
driver takes it. It is our choice to get on that bus, walk, seek other
transportation, or just stay home. Not all offers are advantageous, and many
have a high price tag attached that we only find out about later. One such
trip, with one such offer, happened to Abraham, when he was offered the wealth
of Sodom by the king. Who wouldn’t want to have free reign, free food, and a
palace to live in? But God intervened through Melchizedek, and Abraham said
no. He turned the offer down, being shown that had he accepted, he would incur
a debt he didn’t know of, the debt of owing allegiance to the king. An evil
king, who could call on him at any time to answer, and give up his integrity.
He was wise enough that when it had no strings attached, the one with a noose
you couldn’t see, and that was where God intervened. Melchizedek appeared, then
disappeared, a figure of the eternal priesthood, a figure of Jesus being there,
and guiding you by his spirit. Abraham only took offers from God, he was able
to see the threat to his freedom, and wanted no man to say he had made him rich
but God. We all know what happened to Sodom and Gomorrah, good times last for a
moment, Jesus lasts forever. Abraham would have abandoned his walk with God,
and lost his promise, but for the fact the spirit intervened. Just like it does
for us everyday, many times without knowing. That’s love, a side of Jesus we
neglect to see, to our loss.
Last night a man told of how he had tried to commit suicide three times
this week. But God intervened, in one instance a friend’s refrigerator caught
fire and he went to her rescue. He saved her, while God saved him. Which he
now knows, knowing Jesus more intimately than he had been taught. “Can God
cause a refrigerator to burn?” he asked. Now he knows....so leave the driving
to God. He still allows us freedom of choice, perfect love demands a choice, so
choose Jesus and live. Inherit all the things of the kingdom, not just here on
earth, or for now. Know who is driving or who offers the ride before you get
in, Muir Woods is beautiful, but the time wasn’t right. She was just being
nice, accepting the offer, beware. For even Satan can appear as an angel of
light, who wouldn’t like to win the lottery. I rather take my chances with
Jesus and his record. No gamble here, no matching numbers, no pool to join,
with him every number is a winner. You can be too. Abraham trusted God and was
found righteous. It was in his choices that God’s righteousness was revealed.
What do your choices reveal? If anyone is to make you rich and successful, let
it be God. Adam and Eve blew it, Abraham almost did, don’t you. And leave the
driving to him.
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com