When going to work for Roger Penske, you are indoctrinated to his way of
doing things. And you find there is only one way, his, join in, follow the
rules and reap the benefits, or going looking elsewhere for employment. After
learning his set of rules and morals, many of them very good and which set him
apart, you are then told about the man, with the emphasis on his successes in
racing, his car dealerships, and the fact he has a $1 billion line of personal
credit. This boy don’t have to worry if his American Express card will not be
accepted, or if his check will bounce. And within reason, as reasonable as a $1
billion line can afford you, he can see things and buy them that mere mortals
cannot. Who needs credit if you travel with Uncle Roger, his check is good
anywhere. Just like mine...in my wildest dreams.
We pay cash, and if we don’t have it, don’t buy it. We keep a credit card
for traveling, needed if you want to rent a car, and best when checking into a
motel. It has the lowest fee, zero, the highest interest rate, can gain points
if you spend way too much, and we only use it if we have the cash to back it up
and pay it off. Just like Roger. But while in the bank the other day, a rare
occurrence in these ATM days, a sign advertised twice as many points, a higher
credit limit, and a prestigious card to remind the world, or at least the kid
taking your Big Mac order, you were somebody. So talking with the manager, who
is a friend, I asked her about it, and she explained all the benefits over the
standard card. I’m in, sign me up, and then she told me it had an $89/year fee,
where mine had none. Looking at me, she said “honestly Mike, the only
difference in reality is you don’t pay a fee, being exclusive does. Both cards
need to be paid when the bill comes dues.” So I stayed uncool, I’ll just have
to impress the salesgirl with my humor and good looks if I want to impress her.
Maybe like F. Scott Fitzgerald noted, the rich are different.
Sin is like having a line of credit too, it must be paid off in full. No
monthly payments, no interest rate if you join the club, and the only grace
period is when you come to Jesus. Sin separates us from God and the things of
God, his fruits will not grow in a sinner, although there may be plenty of
fertilizer. Sin requires a payment before you can enter heaven, and only Jesus
can pay it. Payable upon death, but you must have made the proper arrangements,
being saved while still alive. Sin keeps us from God, but also keeps God from
us, as we reject his love and forgiveness. And there is always some good
Christian brother to remind us of our sin, and how we need to turn or burn. How
many are really interested in a salvation from someone who condemns us, when God
never does? There is no example of God’s condemnation, our refusal to
acknowledge the holy spirit condemns us. Yet these church folk go around
condemning us, they are above it, and neglect to tell us there is no
condemnation in Christ Jesus. He came to save, not condemn. Even the bumper
sticker says “Jesus saves,” yet they send out a message that he condemns. They
fail to see the shame, loneliness, agony, and misery of being condemned, they
see God as the final judge, while they serve as the jury. Yet they fail to see
that if God didn’t love us, he never would have sent Jesus to die for us.
Jesus treated the woman at the well with compassion, yet conveyed to her
the payment sin was extracting from her. Everywhere in scripture we see where
he came to save, not condemn, that he came to set us free from the debt of sin,
that we could not pay. Yet forgotten in their message is the words of Jesus,
form the Lord’s prayer, “forgive as you forgive others.” We are the others.
When we see God with his arms outstretched, welcoming us, loving us, and
forgiving us, it takes a hard heart to not accept his mercy. Yet the message of
condemnation continues, just like credit card balances coming due. Only with
credit cards, they will up your credit line, maybe reduce the interest, but you
still owe it. God says owe no man nothing, except to love him. Ever been
hugged by a credit card, feel safe and secure that your line of credit will save
the day? It may buy you time, but the bill will still come due.
So we have no condemnation in Christ, we can come as we are, be accepted as
we are, but don’t expect to leave that way. Jesus changes things, and we are
one of them. In him we are joint heirs, when God’s will is read, our name is
right there in the book of life, debt free, all sin paid in full. As if it
never happened, may your FICO score be as forgiving. Uncle Roger may have
earned his credit line, but when using it, still has to pay it back. Like my
friend Bill used to say about the Golden Rule, “he who has the gold rules.” I
rather have Jesus. Whose line of forgiveness is not harsh, but loving. He
comes with open arms and hands, not with clenched fists or wagging a finger at
us. Can we be the same to those who commit sin against us? Or are we so busy
bragging about our line of credit that we forget the love shown to us? Money
may buy a fine dog, but only love will wag its tail. You may have all the
credit needed on earth, but you cannot spend it in heaven, where even the
streets are paved in gold, asphalt to the saved, how different it is here. So
in my wildest dreams I can brag that I work for the world’s richest Jew, that he
knows me first hand, he knows my name and calls me friend. I only met Roger
twice, I only needed to meet Jesus once. I hope he does, and you do too.
Jesus, never leave home without him.
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com