An old tech Bill worked for us at Mercedes Benz. Retired but working to
supplement his social security, we got talking about how fuel injection changed
the world of autos. Once thought to be a hocus pocus, he had actually attended
school in 1957 with Chevrolet, and brought in his old lesson books to prove it.
A far cry from the computer controlled systems of today, the basic premise was
the same, control the flow of air and fuel to the motor. Mechanical in nature,
not electric at the time, it was problematic, expensive, and a rare option. Of
course today any fuelie 1957 Chevy is worth more, back then just a mechanic’s
headache. Today you just plug it into a laptop and software guides how you want
the power to go and where. Maybe the hocus pocus part as we cannot see electric
current, but feel it when we mess up. OUCH! Yet without the spark to ignite
the fuel and air, nothing happens. How many remember the auto shop teacher
dropping a lit match into a bucket of gas and nothing happened? No air, but
when mixed with it, BOOM! Do not try this at home.
Twenty years ago when involved in off road racing, Chevy was introducing
fuel injection to the Trophy Truck race teams. A group of race team owners and
race preppers sat and watched as a man sitting miles away could change the
engine mapping, adding power or fuel economy based on the setting. We were all
amazed, and at first thought about the power, remember the one horsepower per
cubic inch Chevy ad in 1957, but here it was for fuel economy. Even a half a
mile increase meant another 50 miles per tank and one less pit stop, the
difference between winning and second place. Today that technology is applied
to all cars and most motorcycles, my 2017 Triumph T120 getting over 50 mpg
consistently, and no one ever accused me of a light hand. Allowing the maker to
use a smaller tank and still have the same mileage range. On the Speed and
Street Triples using the track and sport modes, even more power and precision is
noted. All going on with just a twist of the wrist, and without being seen.
But technology and progress were met with some resistance....
It seems the old guys at the time didn’t like fuel injection. Too
complicated, they complained, as they would spend hours trying to dial in a
carb, and never get it right. Requiring rebuilding and track time to see if
they got it, one click too much on a crew and it was more testing. Yet fuel
injection is pretty much set it and forget it. Check the latest software, and
off you go. Tunable even for using regular fuel where you used to have to use
100+ octane. And with more power! Which translates to more speed...and you get
the point. But yet the old guys fiddle and complain while messing with a carb.
It seems the more things change the more things stay the same. Technology like
prosperity is a good thing, sometimes it just goes on too long.
Many an older Christian may be the same way. We fall back on our first
teachings when saved, and many got religion when they needed Jesus. The group I
pastor is diverse, from Catholic, to JW, to Protestant, to Jewish. But we all
have one thing in common, Jesus Christ, so rather than bash a denomination, they
do fine doing that themselves, we make it all about Jesus. Keeping the main
thing, him, the main thing. Yet some issues will come up, so we go back to the
Word for the truth, it never changes, it changes us. Or it tries. We leave it
in God’s hands and he does a great job. We have come together in a spirit of
unity in Jesus Christ, not bonded by common belief, but by belief in him. We
let him be Lord, leaving it up to him, trying not to interfere. But he is
forgiving when we do, and we carry on, trying not to look back. You see we
cannot see the spirit of the Lord who guides us, but we know he is there. More
than a feeling, he is ever present, ever lasting, and loving. Much like fuel
injection, he gives us the power we need when we need it and in the right
amount. Meekness God calls it, power under control. Yet some constantly are
referring to their Bible study book of the week, looking for a better way to
pray, minister, and live a Christian life. It is all about them, and when
confronted can quote scripture, but fail in believing it and living it. The
same ones quick to judge us, so maybe when we fall short of their theology, we
need to remind them we won’t judge you if you quit twisting scripture for your
own purposes. A lesson for all. And the spirit keeps on keeping on despite
us.
If faith is the substance of things believed but not seen, trust comes from
the seeing. From God’s answers to our prayers, to his loving intervention when
we need it. He calls it love, and we need more of it. But how do we get dialed
in, God is not a computer or a how to book? Not a software program with
updates. It takes us trusting the same spirit that told us we need Jesus to be
with us everyday. Who never sleeps or slumbers when we do. Who doesn’t need to
be tuned or adjusted. Just who we need when we twist the throttle, he is the
truth, no opinions needed. And like fuel injection, he works for Chevy as he
does for Ford as he does for BMW. It is left up to the nut behind the wheel to
provide the desire via the throttle, the rest is up to him. Which is why cars
no longer need tune ups, that is what the computer does, just like the spirit
does to us. So many times we don’t realize it is happening, being in tune with
Jesus.
So quit fiddling with the old carb style religion, when you can have all
of Jesus. Tune in today and be tuned up forever. Spend time with him instead
of with opinions. You will find the time well spent with him is much better
than the time not well spent without him. We all have the same opportunity to
be set free, only those who choose to walk in the spirit truly are. The things
which are seen are temporal, the things not seen eternal. Jesus Christ, dialed
in from the beginning. May the Quadrajet religion remain in the past forever.
Or in words we all can understand, you could be riding.
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com