Gone are the good old days when a single brand of car sponsored a TV show.
Probably the most important influence on me was Bonanza and Chevrolet, even to
the ads of the Ponderosa boys driving each of the new 1965 models. Mostly
convertibles, what else would a cowboy drive other than a pickup, not to be
confused with today’s luxury cruisers, but real life open air driving. Per
reruns how many catch the big switch from Plymouths to AMC’s on Adam 12? Or all
the Ford products on ABS shows from the sixties? Even Edsel and Ed Sullivan in
1957...so cars used to play a big part in TV shows and their production. Which
I miss a lot....OK the eighties brought us Magnum in his not so fast Ferrari,
the A-Team van is iconic....should I say any more? But it was the sponsorship
that brought out those great commercials, that allowed Dinah Shore to encourage
us to “see the USA in your Chevrolet....and America is calling.” As I step back
a decade....so which car ads from TV influenced you most, which ad made you a
Chevy, Ford, Plymouth, or Rambler junkie? And as the seventies encroached and
power went away, along with styling and affordability.....where were car junkies
to go? What was left to influence our buying....to make us want to get out and
drive? See the USA in your Vega.....at least Ford had one up on them via
Charlie’s Angels and their Mustang II and Pintos. After living with exciting
cars and their ad media for a decade, where were we to turn? And how would our
choices affect us and cars to come?
It seems that like Mark Twain once muttered, “progress is a good thing, I
just don’t like the change that goes with it.” Maybe found nowhere else in the
world than at any time except for Jesus. Talk about progress and change, yet
the disciples who lived with him were faced with issues when he was crucified,
but also before. Think about being a disciple of Jesus and how life might have
been. He was frightening and maybe hard to live with. He was all about love,
but love that demanded an answer. He was offensive to the people that were in
the news of the day, by telling them the truth. They saw first hand miracles
and things they couldn’t have imagined, and in the marvel of them, must have not
understood a lot of the time. Just like the church folk leaving the service all
abuzz, but when asked why have a hard time explaining it. And in their journey
must have questioned why, and come to the conclusion after talking with Jesus,
admitting how tough life was with him, but asked in reply, “to whom shall we
turn?” Ever feel like that...becoming a Christian is easy, but living the life
will inevitably bring problems, problems overlooked by our previous sin. And
decisions to make...while being hounded by those who aren’t saved, but also from
within. So they admitted two things to Jesus about himself...
First his words penetrated their hearts like none other ever had before.
They not only save but guided their hearts, remarkable words freeing them from
fears. He explained life to them like no one else because he is life, no one
understood them better, and that was what held them together. But the second
was his character, he not only spoke of life and redemption, he lived it, he
never sinned, they saw his words in the body and life of him and his actions.
As they watched they saw him who bore no sin bear their own, they saw prophecies
fulfilled and were drawn to him like no other, and they realized that there
truly was no other way to go. That Jesus truly was and is the way!
And their lives after his death bore witness to him. Persecuted and dying
horrible deaths, they took the gospel via his spirit around the world, never
quitting nor giving up. Not to say they didn’t question why, but they
perservered, just like we do today. Maybe the one unique characteristic of
Jesus in the life of a true Christian is that no matter the circumstances, we
never leave. True Christians are those who don’t and won’t quit, who know that
in their weakness that he is made perfect, and we will win via heaven in the
end. How many times have we confessed “we cannot make it or cannot go on,” even
to questioning “where are you God?” but afterwards repenting and acknowledging
Jesus all over again? For after knowing Jesus, you know there is no other place
to go to find what he offers and delivers on. So in Peter’s answer to Jesus, he
admits that true Christians truly have no other place to go, and after Jesus,
ask yourself, why would you? Free from religion, forgiven of sin, and given all
you need via the holy spirit....and you want what? You’ll turn to who or what
teaching? Many books have been written about life, but only in the Bible will
you find the truth that sets you free, Jesus. A gift based on freedom of
choice, heaven or hell, life or death, freedom or bondage? Others may have all
the answers, but evidently have never heard all the questions, and the most
important one, “who do you say Jesus is?”
So as the times changed for the disciples and change when Jesus enters our
lives, we too must change with him. Life isn’t always a Bonanza, a Dragnet, or
Angel of Charlie’s. In some weird way we got the cars we deserved, not the cars
we wanted. In Christ we find mercy, not getting what we deserve, and grace,
getting what we don’t deserve. It’s time to see the USA via Jesus today, top
experience him personally and get out and enjoy the world he gave us. The key
word is here is getting out and seeing it via Jesus. Not stuck in four walls,
not held down by religion or a denomination, but truly in the spirit. Going
places you never knew of, and with a relationship with God you never knew
possible. The news today will be the movies of tomorrow, live them today. Top
down wind in your face, all the senses enhanced. And when asked “where you
going?” remember where you came from. And how you got here now. “We have come
to believe and know that Jesus is truly the holy one of God.”
If only Jesus played as big a part as cars in our lives, the places we
could go......a single brand promoting life. Sponsored by....let him put you in
the driver’s seat...today!
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com
See the USA in your Chevrolet
America is asking you to call
Drive your Chevrolet through the USA
America's the greatest land of all
On a highway, or a road along the levee
Performance is sweeter
Nothing can beat her
Life is completer in a Chevy