It’s 1968, right in the middle of the Muscle Car era. Cars are pumping out
over 350 hp from over 400 cubic inch engines. For under $3000 you can burn all
the rubber your insurance premium can handle. But on the other side of the
pond, it is still about small engines with high output that handle. And
seemingly from nowhere, Bavaria to be exact, come a new sport sedan, called the
1600, or its bigger engined brother the 2002. No one is familiar with this
make, yet, and its importer Max Hoffman is about to put it on the map in the US
of A. The car, the BMW 2002, which when driven by off and on again editor of
Car and Driver magazine David E. Davis, his headline is how “he blows his mind
over the new BMW!” Which in those days meant “British what?” The Brits still
ruled the sports car world, if only for another few years, but the BMW 2002 was
big news, and C&D puffing it, promoting it, put it on the map, the roads of
America. And as they say, the rest is history...
The first car I bought, from money saved from paper routes and cutting
yards was my Dad’s 1969 BMW 1600. He sold it to me in 1971, for whatever he
would get in trade for a new 2002, maybe the best $1900 I ever spent on a car.
But my Dad owning one to start with is something of itself, as he drove
Ramblers, and commuted in a 1963 VW. Not a car guy, it was economy. But
reading about the BMW, and it being named one of the Best 10 Cars in the World,
he bought one. The power of the press, the words of David E. Davis and others,
getting him into the showroom, into a demo ride, and buying his first and them
his second and last BMW. If you think you know BMW’s, and don’t know about the
2002, you don’t know BMW!
It’s 1947, and a young itinerant preacher peaches his first public crusade
in Grand Rapids, Michigan. No one really notices, but God is moving in his
life, and in 1949 decides to preach in Los Angeles, “The Christ for Greater Los
Angeles Crusade ,” it is noticed by William Randolph Hearst, he of Hearst Castle
and newspaper fame, and he puts out a two word memo to his international chain,
“PUFF GRAHAM!” And as the say, the rest is history, as an unknown preacher goes
on to be an historical figure, leading millions to Christ, and beginning a
family legacy passed on to his kids. From humble beginnings, to even humbler
and a greater future, Billy Graham is today synonimous with Jesus and crusades
around the world. Ministering to both the poor and presidents alike, you make
the distinction. A man with a message from God, promoted by a man with
questionable ethics, brings a message of hope in Jesus Christ to the world, and
lives are changed. The power of the press? Or is it really the power of the
holy spirit?
We neglect to remember that all things work to good for those who love the
Lord, and are called according to his purpose. His purpose, for us to know
Jesus Christ personally, to be saved. Yet in today’s economy, Christian bashing
is the norm, we are made fun of on TV, movies, and in print. Christian movies
come out, but mostly only Christians go to them. I thought they were an
evangelistic arm? Invite an unsaved friend to the movie, be entertained, leave
saved. I hope it’s true, I only hear of church folk attending. All the
huffing, but where is the puffing? But fortunately, bad press has never been
able to deter people from coming to Christ. Where sin abounds, grace abounds
even more. If it weren’t so, Christianity would have died thousands of years
ago, yet it is flourishing today and in places we don’t expect. Or hear about.
Yes, every six seconds Christian is martyred for their faith, yet the
testimonies of Jesus Christ continue. The Bible still the all time best selling
book, mega churches springing up, but somehow Jesus stills keeps it personal.
Just like you can say you drove a BMW, I can say I owned one as my first car.
You may go to church, even read the Bible, but without knowing Jesus, it ain’t
the same. It’s not personal. Yet many live on headlines, rather than reading
the small print.
You may drive a BMW, or attend a crusade, but that won’t make you a
Christian or a BMW driver. It isn’t Billy or the Beemer that change you, it is
the message. For Billy it is the gospel, and under the power of the spirit, it
goes forth, and then others continue the message. Something about Jesus, when
you meet him, you just have to tell someone. Like your new car, you drive it
around and show it off, and after everyone has seen it, the new wears off. No
one to brag to anymore. Is your version of the gospel like that? No longer
fresh and new, just put away? Maybe looking for something newer? Did you know
you can only revive something that was once alive, and has died? Ask Lazarus,
if you could. Go back to the beginning, when it was fresh and new. When
enthusiasm, God within, drove you. What drives you now, better who? My Dad
kept his 2002 for many years, even replacing the rusted fenders. My 1600 blew
an engine at 60,000 miles. The ultimate driving machine? Today every yuppie or
wanna be knows what BMW is? But can they afford the upkeep, or is it about the
perception? Sadly the perceptions of Christians is “they want all our money,”
and we bring along a set of rules designed to rob them of all fun. Maybe said
best, the holy spirit’s job is to convict, God’s job to judge, our job to love.
Are you doing your part, the loving? I have never met a person who came to
Christ and was sorry for it. We all have to worship something, why not God?
And in Christ, it is possible.
There are many acronyms for BMW, Broke My Wallet, Bring Money With you, Big
Money Waster, and Bimbette Motor Wagon. All pretty close to true. Yet above
Jesus on the cross, were the letters, an acronym claiming he was the son of
God. Beemers and Billy will both have an impact on you. So will the power of
the press. Without it, BMW may still be just another car, now it is the
ultimate driving machine. Ultimate to me meaning the last. But in Jesus we
have the alpha and the omega, the first and last. Just for kicks, see if anyone
wants to trade with you on an old worn out Beemer. Jesus is still accepting
trade ins of your old sin for new forgiveness. The ultimate driving machine
will always be the holy spirit. You may blow your mind on a car, your wallet on
a BMW, don’t blow your chance at heaven on anything other than Jesus. Maybe
Paul says it best, “I consider everything else a loss after coming to know Jesus
Christ. That I may forego all others and seek his righteousness. That only
comes from God and by faith.” David E. Davis’s review of the BMW remains one of
the best reviews ever written on a car. I have owned a BMW, and I know Jesus.
And the rest is history...
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com