When I first started riding, we rode like The Wild Ones, finding roads and
following them, not knowing what laid ahead. We were not wild and crazy party
riders, but out for fun and a way to release ourselves from weekly job and
girlfriend pressures. So off on our 350 Hondas we rode, thinking we were bad,
at least to our parents we were, but the reality was we just rode too far into
the night many times, and it was too far, too cold, too something to return
home. So being cool, we would just find a place in the woods to sleep and get
up early and continue. We even had the Halsey Knox toothbrush thing down,
always carrying one in our back pockets, after all we were not savages. Young
and foolish, read full of fun, many a Jersey weekend was spent out among the
roads, crashing until dawn, waiting for daylight.
One night in particular, we rode way too far, and worn out from exhaustion
and cold, pulled into a group of trees and cuddled up next to our Hondas for the
night. A warm morning sun woke us up, only to find the woods we thought we were
in was really a few trees in someone’s front yard. We had all but parked in
their driveway, and could look into their front windows from where we laid. And
they could see us! In the darkness we had parked and slept in someone’s front
yard! We hurriedly got up, rode and went into the first diner we came upon.
Cold and a bit shaken, mornings like this are the reason I only drink hot tea on
cold rides, as we warmed up we began to laugh about our campground. In the
darkness we had chosen what we thought to be a secluded area, only to find
ourselves in the heart of suburbia. Only at the break of day were we alerted,
and we quickly fled. Somewhere between fear and embarassment...
When God said let there be light, I now have a pretty good idea about how
dark the earth must have been. No wonder there was no life, there was nothing
to see. Today Jesus promises us light, that he is the light of the world, and
that whoever follows him will never live in darkness. Brighter than our
primitive headlights, Jesus can guide us into safety and out of danger, he knows
the way. But we must keep our eyes on the road that he is on, or we end up in a
ditch. Or like one night almost hitting a moving train in a rural area, where
there were no flashing lights at the crossing. I now also understand whey
people get hit by trains, they never hear them coming. Fortunately God did and
I stopped just in time. Reminding us just how important light can be when
riding....
But until we are saved we don’t know the depth of darkness we are living
in. Maybe we are familiar with our surroundings, and can get around in the
dark. Maybe a dim light allows us to go on, but still wary of our walk. But
when Jesus lights the path, we can see around us, ahead and behind, for we see
it in his light, which shines brighter, yet never blinds oncoming traffic. The
perfect high beam for night riding, but also illuminates our way in daylight.
It is a spiritual light that opens our eyes to the spirit, that gives us life,
that wants us to get out and live more. We see things through the eyes of
Jesus, and he sees all and knows all. Yet leaves the decision up to us, until
we walk in it we never know how much we missed without it. Or how he walked
with us before our salvation.
Bikers have always waved or flashed our high beams at oncoming bikers. We
acknowledge our brotherhood and our commonness. We want to say hello and have a
safe ride, I have been doing it for so long I wave from our car sometimes. Do
we in our daily walk acknowledge Jesus the same way? Do we wave and encourage
others? Do we pat our heads to warn of the man ahead waiting to ticket us, do
we wave of danger ahead, or even consider other riders? As Christians we are
supposed to love all, even those who persecute us, yet many cast a false light.
How do we know which is true light? Only by being in the spirit will we know,
and with his light to guide us, we ride with confidence, and an anticipation of
better things to come.
But those who ride without Jesus just call it luck, as if no one was in
control. How many times have you blamed luck instead of trusting God and
thanking him? He offers us the light of life, not just for dark nights. In the
fog or bright sunshine, his light is visible to those who have eyes to see, and
will follow. Your headlight cannot see what is around the next bend, Jesus
does. His light warns us of danger form the sides to, often sides we have
learned to trust, but never see the danger in that trust. Ride with Jesus, and
ride in his light, it may be dark, but you aren’t part of it.
And yes, there are lights that can blind you when approaching, Cooper had
some Cibie lights that could only be used above 100km/h because they put out so
much heat, they needed the air to cool them. Or you could be like Icarus and
fly to close to the sun, and melt your wings. Too much of the wrong light can
be dangerous too. But God promises to be adequate in all things, not too much,
not too little, perfect in all situations. Yet we choose to ride by artificial
means....
Jesus said he was the light of the world, and whoever walks in him will
never walk in darkness. Darkness is the absence of light, what do you see when
you turn of the lights at night? What safe haven turns out to be potentially
dangerous? There is none so blind as them that cannot see, Jesus is that
light. Riding or walking, he sees us, do we see him? And don’t forget to let a
little of the light that shines on you shine on others. For just like the two
menorahs lit each night in the old temple that provided enough light for all to
see, it isn’t about candlepower, or the power of the candles, it will always
remain about Jesus. So let there be light...and God saw that it was good.
Flash your highs at him today....
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com