For me it started out cruising the back rows of car lots in Albuquerque.
Some interesting and forgotten vehicles found there, and although not a true
barn find, but rather a back row used car find via the two grandsons who found
it in their grandmother’s garage when she died, it was love at first sight.
Something about the 1950 Buick’s toothy grill, that big straight eight, and the
roar when the gas pedal is pushed to start it. They had painted it, restored
the interior, new wide whites, and its three on the tree shifted fine, no sissy
Dynaflow for her. So I had my first barn find.....within certain limits.
Today it seems barn finds, cars found in some relative’s barn when they
pass away is the hot set up. Leave them like they were found, the patina worth
its weight in restoration, telling a story some trailer queen cannot. Or maybe
once could before being over restored. But barn finds are out there, if you
look or happen to trip over one. But why are the best ones always found in a
barn?
My 1949 Ford F-3 wasn’t, another back row find. Vermillion with 31 leafs
in the rear, it rode like a truck. With 17” split rims, a 1955 T-bird motor, a
battery out of a state police cruiser won on a flip of the coin, it hauled wood,
was a place for my son to play in, and finally sold, as was the Buick, when
life’s needs surpassed the love of the vehicle. Neither one a true barn find,
no barns involved in the transactions, but oh the tales they would tell if you
listened. The smell of grease and oil, plastic pieces on the F-3 rotting, no
headliner, it was a thing of beauty no restoration could improve upon. Even my
Buick won an honorable mention at a Memorial Day car show, I was impressed
until I found all entries got one. But it too was sold when I needed money, but
still to this day the love affair with postwar Buicks from 1946-1950 remains.
Where is that barn when I need it.....
But not all valuable old cars are found barns, just like not all Christians
can be found in churches. When pastoring Dustin Arms we had many barn find
people, whose life resembled a barn find, left to rot or die with no one
caring. Many who once were in church, until their sins forced them out, can’t
have sinners in the church, how will that look? Pick a cult, denomination, a
philosophy, or trend, we had them all. And as I listened to their stories, I
always asked “where is Jesus in it?” Even the most hard core atheist would
consider, as the holy spirit did his job, saving, we were just the messengers.
And a funny thing happened, these barn find Christians began to grow from the
inside, the patina of life remaining, but born again in the spirit, like a
restoration project, still in process. And they began to tell others, to not
stumble of denominational differences, leaving the church that hurt them
behind. They may have been accused of leaving the church, but it was really the
church that left them, God never did.
Today there are more barn finds than barns it seems. With vehicles that
were once loved retrieved and valuable once again. Works with Jesus too, as
when he comes into your life, he too will make all things new again. So often
we get caught up in religion and think the church is Jesus, and attendance or
membership gets us the heavenly ride we seek, but only in Christ are you saved.
He may be knocking right now on your heart, the spirit calling to you. And you
can answer, no altar calls found in scripture, Jesus meets you right were you
are. Telling you where two or three are gathered in my name, I am with you.
The spirit and you make two, Jesus completes it. So why sour in church when you
can be blessed in the spirit?
Just as all barn finds have a story to tell, so do God’s kids. Our
testimonies change lives when shared. No one can dispute them for they are
real. Maybe just cruising the back lots you may have heard of Jesus, and
wondered, but sold out to the lies or per pressure. Holing up in a barn where
you think no one can find you, or cares. Jesus cares, he provides, and is just
waiting for the chance to know you, and you know him. To enter into the family,
and to be blessed. You see when it is all about Jesus, you don’t need religion,
you have truth. You have friend who never asks for money, we never asked for
any, yet like scripture says we never went hungry or naked, like the saved
ones. When we needed something God provided, from food to clothes, shoes to
beds, it was him not us, who was in charge. While lives were changing, writing
to prisoners and loving them, sharing food and clothes on the street, all the
while earning the right to share Jesus with them. The words carrying weight
after the actions of love were shown.
So maybe you are or were a barn find before Jesus. He is still patient.
No matter where you are, your condition, he’ll meet you there. You are not
alone. Back row or front row, no bargain is like the free one of eternal life.
So if you are one of the ones who used to sing and believe “Jesus loves you this
I know, for the Bible tells me so,” he still does. His will is that none should
perish, but to know him personally. Some are snatched at the last moment, some
barn finds end up crushed. In Christ we won’t be. Something to consider....as
cars cannot be as valuable as people, can they?
So why are they always found in a barn? Jesus started in one, but he
didn’t stay there. He was out on the streets. Where the action is. Start your
barn find story today with him, then go tell someone. See, true Christians just
have to tell someone about Jesus when he comes into their lives. For me it was
a Buick and an old Ford, then Jesus made it real.
So you too can answer, “have you heard about Jesus?” “Yes for many years
now. Let me tell you how he found me...” And you thought it was all about
religion....
love with compassion,
Mike
matthw25biker.blogspot.com