As I walked to my bike yesterday after having lunch, an old man saw my
Triumph shirt and then my Tiger, he asked “they still make those? I had one
once, a 1966 Tiger, the single carb model.” And the conversation began, as he
told of his $35/month payment, how it leaked oil, couldn’t be ridden reliably at
night, and how because he lived by the beach, the electrics corroded. “But man
I loved that bike, we had the best times on it, I dated my wife on it, and when
it ran....I wish I had never sold it,” as his voice trailed off, his memory had
just caught up with his words, and in his mind’s eye he was that young man 50
years ago, hoping it would fire off on the second kick, that all the oil hadn’t
leaked out, and the electrics would work. He was riding again, if only for a
brief moment in his memory. Such is the story of old Triumph owners, the
experience goes way beyond the performance, they were in it for the ride, how
many of us today can say that today? What will your memories of riding be 50
years from now? What are they now?
Years ago I asked a group of Harley riders, the lifestyle type, “if
tomorrow only two stroke 250 cc motorcycles were available, would you still
ride?” The answers surprised me, but not really, without fail they would all
give up the joy of riding and pass on the two stroke. Which maybe defines a
real motorcyclist from a poser, or an enthusiast. They are in it to be seen,
and when they have to buy the second tank of gas that month, maybe they have
ridden too far. Which may explain why so many used Harleys have low miles, they
aren’t in it for the ride, unless their wife says it is OK. Then faced with the
fact they might have to ride.....Years ago Triumph ran an ad comparing
themselves to the Japanese bikes, but aimed at the rider. An “expert or an
enthusiast?” the ad asked, and explained the differences. and of course, it was
cooler to own and ride a Triumph, with the ever looming prospect of not making
it to where you were going, than to have a shiny new, technically modern bike in
which you would. The ad called those guys enthusiasts, only Triumph riders were
experts. But then they had to be... as my encounter with the old man’s memory
after lunch reminded me. Not all who ride are experts, not all enthusiasts.
Some are in it for the ride, some just along for the ride. While some just hang
on to old visions, while young kids still dream of their first ride....
I got in trouble one night for saying it was easy to become a Christian,
but hard to stay one. That one had the traditionalists upset, but I believe I
was right, so let me explain. Becoming a Christian, that born again experience
happens in the blink of an eye, it is personal, and a one time event. You are
saved, and now you are a Christian. But then life interferes, and although you
now have Jesus, the pressures of the world, the flesh, and the devil are
obvious, and become more so everyday. Things that were OK and accepted are now
seen to be sinful, and as your heart changes, so do your actions. Old friends
make fun of you, new church friends tell you how to, and all you want to do is
enjoy the new Jesus in you. Now religion has reared its ugly head and starts to
fill you with rules and regulations, and the freedom you had for an instant is
replaced by church. You begin to meet a group of people who are in it for what
they desire, a free ride, with all the things God can do for them. You find
some are experts, some are enthusiasts, but how many live the life with Jesus as
Lord? And as the joy begins to wear off, you wonder how much was just
emotions? How much was really Jesus? And is this all there is to being a
Christian?
Psalm 51 asks God to “restore to me the joy of salvation and grant me a
willing spirit, to sustain me.” Like an old Triumph you can be leaking on the
outside, but still function on the inside. You may have trouble at night, but
somehow still get to where you are headed, but maybe not to where you are going.
But knowing Jesus as opposed to knowing about him makes a difference, and we
find he has given us all we need to break away from the powers of darkness.
That upon salvation we have been given the holy spirit, we don’t have to wait or
study to get him. Jesus won the battle over sin, and so have we, and we can
start living like it. NOW! The help you have asked for is here now, but now
you must act on it, and saying nothing is saying no. Quizzing friends and
pastors for opinions is not the answer, you already have the source, are you
listening? And when you trust through faith, you will begin to act, doing what
you need to do, and doing what God wants you to do. Yet how many give up riding
when they break down, or have to ride in the rain? How many approach Christ the
same way? God is just as present while riding as when pushing, or being
pushed. He has given us all we need in Jesus, are we using it? Do we even know
we have it all in him?
So maybe you are just an enthusiast Christian, OK for the word means God
within, a good thing. You ride out the bumps, enjoy the curves, and make it
through the storm. Maybe you are an expert, trained with an answer via
scripture for everything, all the answers until you hear a new question. The
difference is Jesus, both can have him, only in one is he alive and
functioning. Is it possible the old Triumph riders had more faith and rode in
the dark? Was riding more than a lifestyle for being seen, or were they in it
for the ride? Tough questions that demand tough answers, where is Jesus in your
life? Who is he to you? And how do you show it? It is in the tough times that
God’s spirit is revealed in you, his strength is made perfect in our weakness.
In this life you will have tribulation, so get over it, we have overcome by the
blood of the lamb and the word of his testimony, we won! Ask yourself, what can
you tell others about Jesus Christ in your life? If you couldn’t get to church
tomorrow would you still follow him? Is your relationship with him church or
denomination based? How personal is it? After a tough day do you stop and
thank God for getting you through the storm, or curse him for it? Scripture
tells us he was found in the storms also. Looking back on Jesus do you look
ahead with such excitement? Do you remember the night he _______fill in the
blank? What defines you as a Christian? Do you need the joy of your salvation
restored?
We used to pick a destination, now we choose a direction to ride. It opens
up more possibilities, and takes us places we would never have thought of. Seek
the direction of the spirit, in the sun and in the rain he is with you. And
maybe get an old Triumph and have a religious experience. Praying you will make
it home, no way for us to live in Christ. He has granted you a spirit of
victory, his, remembering it was the ride after all that you signed up for, God
will add the memories. A relationship between man and God, only made possible
through Jesus Christ. Experts stay home and study, enthusiasts get out and
ride, and make the testimonies. An old Harley ad asked “50 years from now do
you want to be remembered for your crabgrass free yard or the miles you rode?”
For the ride, his name is Jesus....
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com