My Dad owned very few cars when I was growing up. The first one I remember
is a 1952 Chevy two door, blue, then buying my Grandpa’s 1956 Buick Special two
door, yellow with white top, then it went downhill from here. A succession of
three Ramblers, a 1962 America wagon. a four door 1964 330, and then a 1966
Rambler Classic 770 four door, the car I learned to drive in. Finally a 1969
BMW 1600, which I later bought from him when he traded up to a 2002 in 1972.
Like many of us when we go to cruise nights or car shows, we tend to gravitate
to the shiny red convertibles with big motors, but lately I find myself looking
for the cars of my Dad, instead of the cars my friends and I had. Just as
different cars will provide different memories, so will the time they were
involved in your life. I can remember all the good times hanging with friends,
but my Dad’s cars were just transportation, until the bug hit, sorry I forgot
his 1963 VW. They were cool at the time, something his other cars weren’t, even
the BMW at the time was “British what?” But when I wanted him to buy the Muscle
cars, he reminded me the VW had bucket seats, and four on the floor. Two
prerequisites at the time. On paper he was on safe ground....just not on the
street.
But lately I find myself attracted to Ramblers, pre-1967 when they changed
under Abernathy, and mid fifties Buicks. Try to find a 1600 or 2002 BMW, put in
2002 and the year 2002 shows up for the latte crowd. But what is it about these
non-descript cars that I didn’t like then that I am interested in now? I am
getting bored with 55-57 Chevies, sorry, same with SS396, SS454 Chevelles, which
are more plentiful now the when new. Maybe I am just getting old, lots of
maybes as you do, but just maybe, it takes me back to when my life was simpler,
major decisions were made by my parents, and everything was new and exciting.
Except his cars.....
Which sounds a lot like my walk with Jesus. I am so overwhelmed with books
telling me how to pray, how to build a church, the latest Christian CD, or a
pastor’s new book. So many new revelations, when we are new, but the same ones
that were new for older generations. Seems the people of God are continually
trying to improve on his word, his way to worship, and how to be a Christian.
Which is nothing new today. Seems when it took Paul over two years to found the
Corinthian church, under the power of the holy spirit, it took a different
approach. Instead of taking the church into the world, they let the world into
the church, and suffered. Just like today. They were doing spiritual things
the same way they did in the world, without God’s assistance. Instead of
tapping into all the power of the spirit, they became drained trying to do it
themselves, hence Paul’s letters chastising them, and reminding them of who
really is in power, and who saved them. Just like I put stickers on my Dad’s VW
to make it look cool, the church was trying to use programs, procedures, and
processes to fit in. To be popular, despite being a Christian wasn’t. Still a
common theme in today’s society, with safe pastor’s giving safe sermons building
safe Christians, or really just church goers. Pew fillers. I used to attend
such a fellowship, once describing the pastors as “men who like to swim, but who
are afraid of the water.” By one of the elders. With so much said about Jesus,
they never get to know him personally. In the spirit. And the excitement of
being a Christian fades....
I look back at my Dad’s cars different now. They were his cars, not mine.
Different, not wrong. Same in the church today. How many are told by the
pastor after the service, “you’re dismissed.” What! Like from school, work,
from my chores? When is the last time you left with a final word of scripture,
instead of being reminded of coming events? Have we become so comfortable like
we were in the back seat of our father’s cars, we fall asleep? Is the only
thing we ask “are we there yet?” While sitting in church....I ask pastors, “why
is it Billy Graham spoke for 20 minutes and people rushed to the altars, you
speak for an hour and we all rush for the door?” Maybe my Dad were onto
something different by not driving Chevies, Fords, or Chryslers. Are we
different because we walk in the spirit, not in denominational doctrine? Is
there a bit of Corinth in our fellowship with Jesus? Or are we different
because we walk in the spirit?
Fellowship with Christ is the work of the holy spirit. Not us! It is up
to him to make the things of Jesus aware to us daily, to reveal the secrets of
Christ to us individually, so when we gather together we can be one in the
spirit, not just like minded bodies. It is the spirit that creates the demand
for Jesus in our lives, and that can only be fed via the spirit. No amount of
teaching, preaching, study, singing, or prayer can do it. These things are not
bad, but without the spirit’s guiding, they are just things. We need the
spirit! Yet many churches and individuals stumble on never knowing or
experiencing all God has for them. Is Jesus Lord of your life or just a part of
it? Be honest....in lying you only perjure yourself and deny the spirit. We
have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God....only via the spirit can
we or will we return.
What will your kids remember of your cars, the cars they grew up in? In
ours it will be T-Birds, Mustangs, convertibles, and motorcycles. But hopefully
we will have laid out a foundation for Jesus Christ in their lives. With a
unique and personal relationship with him via the spirit. Not mired in
memorization, but in the times when Jesus was near when needed. When all hope
failed and he didn’t. When in need and he provided. All by his
spirit....giving them and us the abundant life promised. And so I go on looking
for my Dad’s car. Some are just like it except for color, the motor, the year.
Maybe the body style. So I keep looking, knowing that even if I come close, it
won’t be his. And being his makes all the difference. In cars and with God.
Only in the spirit will you know.....
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com