On our recent 16 day motorcycle ride, we again discovered the meaning of
flexibility. On our sixth night out, the next night’s destination was to be
French Lick, Indiana, but the thunderstorm and lightning warnings told us to
change our route. So for all but one of the nights left, we had to change all
our reservations, destinations, and reroute ourselves. Which we have learned
from our past route changes can turn out good,which these did also. By careful
planning and route changing, and the grace of God, we were able to stay a day
ahead of the storms that were threatening the midwest, and have an enjoyable
trip. All the months of planning suddenly went out the door, as everything had
changed, so we rode on anyway. Settling for only 5200 miles instead. But in
our flexibility we got to see the gospel in action, the good news of how God has
everything under control. And how our choices to follow the spirit or our own
selfish ways have a huge impact on our ride and its outcome.
In 5200 miles of riding, we only rode in 70 miles of rain, a miracle if you
ride across the US of A. That day came when we decided to go from Yukon,
Oklahoma after visiting with Joe, and ride to Albuquerque and stay an extra day
and rest. Somewhere east of Santa Rosa I tired, and with the dark skies ahead
wondered if I had made the right choice, but with no rooms in town, and only 100
miles to go, less than an hour and a half, we had ridden past the point of no
return. So we put on our rain suits, and prepared for the rain. With high
winds, and hail an added bonus...
The wind blew so hard it was hailing sideways from a 90 degree angle, and
my left arm reflected it covered with bruises. We held steady, slowing down
trying to find a speed where we could keep up with the wind, and then the rain
let loose, the highway flooded, and the entry into Albuquerque was scary. When
the rain and wind suddenly stopped, the roads were dry, and the last five miles
calm, as if it never had happened. I think it was safe to say that 70 miles of
storm was the time we trusted God most on the trip, we had with our route
changes, but in the midst of the storm, we had to, as there was no place to
escape on the open prairie. But we had found our escape route in Christ.
The point of no return may be as simple as not finding a motel room and
having to go on, riding out the storm not knowing when it will subside, or like
flying over the ocean, you go so far that it is the same distance if you turn
back than if you keep going. Such was the fate of Judas, when Jesus gave him
publicly the chance to turn back form Satan. Jesus knowing the answer, and the
outcome, showed how his love even for the doomed by their decision to reject him
still loves us. Just as Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane asked God if it was
his will to change it, he allowed Judas the same opportunity, just like he does
us. He never gives up on our hope for salvation, yet when the decision to deny
Jesus openly, we see how Satan entered Judas and it was too late for him. He
had taken the idea, turned it into thoughts, weighed the options and still
denied Jesus. While 11 others chose him, one didn’t. They didn’t come to
accept Jesus until after his death, but by his spirit they didn’t deny him
either. That seed of hope in them, they pressed on, past the point of no
return. Somehow knowing Jesus would return and through his spirit they knew
they would be resurrected too. Judas had denied God’s love, the others didn’t
try to understand it, just went with it. They had all seen the same miracles
and walked with Jesus, the difference was in the spirit they chose, Judas chose
Satan, the others the holy spirit. The same choice we are given...
Till death do us part, we are given the opportunity to choose Jesus. His
holy spirit is constantly telling us “you need Jesus,” but the world tries to
deflect it. Judas gave in to money which he thought would buy him power, but
found it made him a slave to it. He trusted things instead of Jesus, and money
and things will never save you. How sad and terrible to see the saddest
decision in history made, where Judas had passed the point of no return. While
still alive he had made his choice, and sealed his fate. If you still have
breath, you still have time, but not much. For tomorrow is promised to no man,
and just as the sunny skies can change, the storm can come by surprise. Because
we trusted the spirit in our route changes, we were confident in our choices,
but still rode through the storm, but not alone, for in the great weather as
well as the storm, Jesus stayed with us. Jesus wants to change your route
today, gives you the choice, but once past the point of no return, your fate is
sealed. When is this point of no return? I’m not sure, so I chose Jesus when
he made me the offer. I do not want to consider how my life would have turned
out if I had denied him and lived in darkness. But his will is that none should
perish, is your decision God’s will? Or will your pride destroy you? With over
a million miles of riding, I have seen all types of weather, yet press on
towards my destination. Is heaven your goal, are you pressing on? Do you curse
the storm and the one who controls the weather, or do you look to him for
guidance? Are your plans so set you leave no room for flexibility? No one sets
out to find Jesus, only by his spirit are we called. We used to ride to
destinations, now we ride directions. What direction are you heading? Jesus
gives you a choice, evil doesn’t. Jesus is the way, all others fail. Judas had
heard the teachings and seen the miracles, yet he chose the evil spirit over the
holy one. Without Jesus you may have passed the point of no return, are you
willing to bet all your tomorrows on today? The spirit is willing....are
you?
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com