Let me take you back to a simpler time, when cars and the people who owned
them were both simpler, and in some cases simple. A time when even an AM radio
was an option, and FM was still new and only for those who were true connisseurs
of rock and roll music. A time when 8 tracks brought the music of albums onto
four wheels, and right in the middle of your favorite song it would change
tracks. This is where we are this morning, a time of Pintos and Vegas, Gremlins
and VW Bugs, a time of Danny’s Song, “even though we ain’t got money, I’m so in
love with you honey...” and the Grateful Dead were right on, “what a long
strange trip it has been.”
Castro, as in Jimmy Castro, worked with us at Sears. His first car, a
brand new Vega, in that cool blue color, was his pride and joy. You remember
how it was with your first car, you always wanted to do the driving, invited all
your friends when going to lunch, and any time was time for a road trip. So it
was with Jimmy and his Vega, with one exception, Castro was cool, one of the
guys, Vegas were in as a low cost first car, but there was something about his
car that kept us from wanting to ride in it. In fact even parking by it on hot
days, as it gave off an odor worse than BO. Like bad meat it stunk, and with no
air in the era of vinyl everything interiors, it was brutal. So when Jimmy
asked a couple of us to help him install an 8-track with him, we ran out of
excuses, and those of us who didn’t helped him install it. An afternoon we
would never forget....
It was the best of times and the worst of times, with the best still to
come. As we decided to install the door speakers first, at least the doors open
would provide some air flow, not quite fresh, Jimmy working on the driver’s door
pulled off the panel, and we heard “%^&*(((&%$!!!” And as the smell
escaped, he reached in and grabbed what was left of a sandwich, a sandwich still
in a baggie that some line worker had hung inside the driver’s door at the
factory. He grabbed it and threw it across the drive, and with it the odor, the
source of the odor found and remedied. Immediately a refreshening of the
interior had begun, add in some sprays of Brut, Castro’s cologne of choice, and
soon it smelled like a Saturday night date instead of a Sunday morning fishing
trip, after the catch was made. It would still take a few weeks until we would
ride in his car again, but now with music, fresh air, even if tainted a bit with
Brut, the car was drivable again, do I hear “road trip!”
What had happened to Castro’s car was what happens to us when we turn to
Christ. The stench of sin is removed, and the fresh air of the holy spirit is
present in our lives. We enjoy a time of refreshing, and even though we still
face problems, we now look at them differently. We now are assured of heaven,
and soon we know that the return of Jesus Christ in imminent. Being in the last
days for over 2000 years, we have the promise of redemption, of cleanliness and
forgiveness of sins, and a hope and a future. The smell of death is gone, and
we can breathe freely for the first time. Just as Jesus promised us, we are
truly born again, a new creature in Christ. We learn to not make excuses for
our sin, and like Castro’s car, we can be free to go where we want and invite
people along with us, and they will not be forced to make excuses. When led by
the spirit, he will guide us, and if we are rejected, he never does reject us.
Yet some reject Christ, trying to cover up their stench with cologne, trying to
hide a smell, but the spectre of death is always present. Arguments and excuses
presented, and it is hard to figure why anyone would want to go to hell if they
don’t have to.
A time of peace and prosperity accompanies us in Jesus. Not by our
standards, but his, as we can cast all our cares on him. Despite the world
around us we can go out and be refreshed, knowing that in tough times, in times
of trials and temptations, we have an advocate, who is there for us. But sin
can hide very well, just like the old sandwich in the baggie, it wasn’t the
car’s fault, but it and all who entered still suffered. What was a joke from
the line worker who hung his lunch inside the door, had a devastating effect on
others. Sin is not isolated, but when you are saved you can be isolated from
it, in the spirit. Where no cologne, no fresh air, and no other way other than
total removal will fix it. We need sin removed so the odor of death will go
with it, and only in Jesus is that possible.
We laughed about Castro’s car, Jimmy telling better with all the facial
expressions, hand movements and using the seven words you cannot say on TV.
The odor of death was removed, but the car was still a Vega, which soon would
rust away before his very eyes, soon after the head gasket blew and the motor
blew with it. Fixed under warranty, but we always wondered, “did the engine
builder miss anything, on purpose?” So Jimmy did the right thing, traded the
car away, and at that time we both moved on. But every time 8 tracks are
mentioned, when Fabreeze is advertised, when classic cars are mentioned, I think
of Castro’s Vega. And now I know why the fragrence of Brut has lost its
appeal. You can cover up sin, but until it is completely removed, the stench is
still there. One ride will convince you, what part of fresh and new don’t you
like? We all remember our first car, what do you remember about yours? That
new car smell will not last forever, but Jesus will. The Vega is gone, where
you end up is your decision. Danny’s song or Jesus’s song?
Meanwhile GM announces another recall, seems a strange odor is coming from
some of its models, no deaths reported...yet. You will be advised to return it
to your dealer. Isn’t it time we return to God?
“and tell me everything’s gonna be alright...”
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com