I met Leigh while selling motorcycles in Albuquerque. He was a helicopter
mechanic for the 1551st, based out at Kirtland AFB, and he had three loves in
his life. He loved his Lord Jesus Christ, he loved serving his country the great
US of A, and he loved his BMW, a 1974 R90/6 complete with Windjammer. But not
always in that order. Living in the barracks on base made him a regular at our
house only a few minute away. I was living with John, and Leigh was over most
every night. All three of us were young Christians, and spent time sharing the
Lord and talking about the Bible. We also went to different churches, and
usually met Sunday afterwards to eat and ride. But one Sunday afternoon would
change Leigh forever, as he saw the scripture come alive in his heart and his
life. It was the time of Hal Lindsay’s book “Late, Great Planet Earth,” and
many were interested in the rapture. The time in history that Jesus calls his
children home to be with him, leaving behind those who didn’t believe or
rejected Jesus, to go through the worst seven years the world will ever known,
the Tribulation. Still popular today, and a topic for the best selling Left
Behind series, none of us who believed wanted to see just how horrible the world
could or would be, and we didn’t care who was the anti-Christ, we wouldn’t be
here. Believing all that, Leigh came by as usual......
Only to find all the doors open as usual, TV on, but no Mike or John. And
he freaked, he thought he had missed Jesus call, and he was destined to be left
behind. When we came back form chasing down John’s Great Dane, we found him on
his knees in the den, tears flowing and calling out to God for forgiveness. He
believed, “if I need help with my unbelief God please help, but please don’t
forget me and leave me behind!” I cannot describe the look on his face when he
saw us, belief or unbelief, glad he hadn’t been left behind, and cementing in
his heart how real Jesus was, is, and will forever be. Confirming who he
believed in....looking back it must have appeared almost funny, to Leigh it was
a gift of reassurance form God himself.
Maybe the clearest instruction of salvation comes from Romans 10:10,
“believe in your heart God raised Jesus from the dead, then confess with your
mouth and you are saved.” As scripture tells us, “anyone who believes in Jesus
will be saved.” Simple so we an get it, free so we can afford it. No 12 steps,
catechisms, studies to perform to be proven worthy, or church to join. No
ceremony or denominational tributes. But only when we are moved by his spirit
will we will be saved, it is not a mind game, an intellectual exercise, or
religious crusade, it is individual between you and God, via his son Jesus
Christ.
Jesus is Lord, that is the truth. He is, not was, Lord of our past to
forgive us of our sins. He is Lord of our right now, to guide, control, direct,
and dwell in our lives via the holy spirit. And like Leigh was reminded that
afternoon, he is Lord of our future, to lead us into heavenly glory at last. He
is the Lord of Life, Lord over death, and Lord of all things. Even under the
earth in hell, those who don’t believe will see just who he is for eternity,
bowing and worshiping him, but in agony and pain, in distress for not choosing
him when they had the chance. For as it is written, every knee shall bow and
every tongue confess, that Jesus Christ is Lord. both above and under the
earth. As Paul wrote in Acts, “there is no other name under heaven or earth by
which you may be saved.” Simple enough. It was that message that gave Peter
the strength on the day of Pentecost and saw 3000 saved. His theme simply,
Jesus is Lord. And when we confess him as scripture tells us, we too are saved,
and become part of the heavenly family of God. With no fear of being left
behind....Christ is now in you, and you will live a completely new life in him.
You then will want to tell others about Jesus and how he saved you, not standing
on corners and shouting, but rather letting your light shine as the spirit gives
you words for others. The great message does not need to shouted out, God still
speaks to the heart in a still, a small, a quiet voice. Personal so we get it,
so we know who is on the other side of the line. And giving us the choice.
When the unseen does an intangible miracle in our hearts, it then is followed by
the tangible. I believed, and thus I spoke. We may not understand all that is
going on, all we know is that we are changed. And his spirit dwells within
us.
Leigh knew all these things, but when God made it real, his life changed.
When faced with what he really believed, he went right to the only one who could
save him, confessing Jesus as Lord. God will test us, let us be tested, and
also instruct us in the way he knows best, for Leigh he knew best, and now so
does Leigh.
Jesus is Lord, for there is no other name by which we can be saved. Leigh
had heard all the teachings, knew what he believed, it took the spirit to make
it personal. That day the three loves of his life were put in the proper
priority, God, country, and his bike. And now that Jesus was first, he could
love his country even more, seeing how God shed his grace on America, and now
could enjoy his ride more, for he knew God has everything under control. And
when that someday comes, he knows that when he leaves the planet earth, exactly
where he will be. The parable of the empty house, don’t leave home without
him. The question is will you? What or who is your confidence in? Only Jesus
saves....are you saved?
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com