Mention a BMW 2002 today and the yuppie elite think of the year 2002, just
an old car, but the 2002 BMW, the model, not the year, was the car that put BMW
on the map in America. Without the help of the factory either, but with Max
Hoffman bringing them in and selling them. A part of their history not found or
remembered today by the newest generation. If you never heard of Studebaker,
then you probably don’t know they used to import Mercedes Benz. Think you know
all about GM? In the early seventies Chevrolet sold over 3 million cars in one
year, alone! Today total GM US sales don’t reach that. Honda sold only
motorcycles if you didn’t include the 600 cc car they tried to sell here, and
Cadillac far outsold all other luxury makes. Period. Hard to imagine how much
things change in one generation.
I saw The Eagles in 1973 as a warm up band for Robin Trower? Who? And
today tribute bands still make big bucks treading on their name and legacy.
Long before Joe Walsh joined, he was with James Gang, and Timothy B. Schmidt was
with Poco. Richie Furay played with Buffalo Springfield, started Poco, got
saved and is now a Calvary Chapel pastor. Maybe the Grateful Dead were right,
“what a long strange trip it has been...”
How we used to ride has changed too, in my lifetime. From the old guys
riding Triumphs, Nortons, BSA, Matchless,and even Harleys, today only HD and
Triumph exist. Indian left over 60 years ago and has returned. Honda used to
sell the most motorcycles, now the dealer meetings are a downer because of lack
of product. BMW built touring bikes, now builds the best sport bike and
adventure bike. For over 20 years of my driving life I was confined to 55 mph,
said so right there on the tickets. Now try to stay up with the posted limits
as high as 75. Walking into a McDonalds for an 89 cent soft drink, the sign
said they will now come to your table and take your order. Selling lattes, and
wraps with smoothies. Even three types of Big Macs. At one time in high school
if you could eat $5 of their food it was a big deal. I wonder, what if I just
want a burger, fries, and a Coke?
I have purchased two homes in the past that cost less than a new F150. The
Beetle used to be the best selling import,Budweiser was an American company, the
Titans were the Oilers from Houston, the Raiders were from Oakland, then LA, and
the Ravens were the Cleveland Browns. The Cardinals from St. Louis, the Rams
from LA. MAD magazine was a quarter-CHEAP, now is $5.99. Cycle World rivaled
Cycle, then bought them, and rivaled Motorcyclist. Now they are owned by the
same corporate group and only print every other month. Bitter competitors Road
& Track and Car and Driver now share a corporate company also. FIAT owns
Chrysler, people prefer SUV’s over convertibles, and my 300 hp Mustang gets 27
mpg on the highway, with better 1/4 mile times than any Muscle Car including the
Hemi. Just when you think you have seen it all....
So I think I may just hang around a little longer, just to see what happens
next. Fortunately the one constant in life is Jesus Christ. Churches may
change their doctrines, many choose social issues over the gospel, and allow sin
to boost numbers and income, yet Jesus never changes. No surprises here, except
that it surprises many he doesn’t change. They look for a God who will meet
their lifestyle, who will make them feel good in their misery, and not upset
them. Maybe even a genie in the lamp to grant every wish for them. They want
commitment from him, but are unwilling to commit to him. But stop and take a
look at where you are in Jesus today, and where you were before. Hell, now
heaven. That ought to be enough. But yet when some signed up and thought life
would be perfect, then got cancer, or lost a job, or divorced, they blamed God.
Never fessing up to the fact of the mistakes they made, and how the spirit was
right there to guide them. We forget about Adam’s fall from grace, yet God gave
him a family and a heritage. And how he would know pain throughout his life.
We forget the change in the earth after the flood, and Noah not knowing the
difference, drank wine that once was pure, but now was laden with alcohol, it
too had changed, fermenting being a death process itself. King David, a war
hero against Goliath, turned against a friend after playing slap and tickle with
his wife. But still found grace in God’s eyes, and seeing his pain and recovery
in Psalms. How Paul was Saul and persecuting Christians, until Jesus came into
his life. And of course Jesus, who gave up his place in heaven, and became less
than the angels to come and save us. His death on the cross changing man and
mankind forever. The only question left is where is Jesus in your life? Is he
just a figure on the dashboard of your car? Is he a cross you hang around your
neck? A Christmas and Easter church service? Or is he the most important
person in your life, knowing that without him you would have no life? Do you
call Lord and Savior, or just savior? Is there any difference between before
Jesus and now?
Music, cars, motorcycles, friends, and even churches change. Jesus never
does. Nor does the spirit that called you to him. He is as fresh today as when
you first met him, and as exciting as when you first believed. His love knows
no highs or lows, he is love. Styles change, laws change, and even The Beatles
split up. But these three things remain, faith, hope, and love. The greatest
is love, the person of Jesus Christ. We need to change, he will do it for us.
When we let him.
From 78 rpm records, to 45’s, long playing albums, to 4 track then 8, to
cassette and CD, the delivery has changed, the music hasn’t. Our listening
tastes have. Are you listening to what the spirit is saying to you? Are you
using the ear he has given you to hear with? The difference between then and now
is Jesus. Has he made a difference in your life? His price of admission to
heaven has defeated inflation, free. He made the gospel simple so we could
understand it, and free so we can afford it. There are tribute bands, but only
one who earned the right to all our worship. He was the real thing long before
Coca Cola. And will be long after...and he who dies with the most toys doesn’t
win, he still dies. Now, where will you be then?
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com