Thursday, March 29, 2007

Something a Friend of mine wrote

Salvation is like a dirt bike-author: Laura Paugh

Dirtbikes are ridden over and over again, but in order for them to run, you must put gas in them. Time after time, we refuel our bikes to be able to ride them. As all riders know, no matter how hard we try to keep the gasoline and inner tank clean, we can not. Small tiny little particles of grit manage to get in. Whether its from popping open the cap or natural wear and tear on the bike, we always manage to get grit in the tank, which will eventually find its way to the carburetor. Now all riders also know that the carburetor is the heart of the bike. It dictates how well the bike runs, whether good or bad. Carburetors are very fragile and sensitive, reacting to the slightest bit of dirt that might enter them. Since bike manufacturers know that getting some sort of dirt into the gas tank is inevitible, the bikes usually come with a fuel filter installed somewhere. In some bikes, it is located within the carburetor directly behind the fuel intake hose, for others it may be placed directly into the fuel line. Either way, most every dirtbike has some sort of fuel filter to keep dirt out of the carburetor. If we succeede in keeping dirt out of the carburetor, we are sure to have a strong running bike, as long as there are no onther physical problems.

After riding the other day, I was taking my daily time with God when this concept came upon me. Humans and salvation are a lot like dirtbikes. Our soul is like the gasoline of our life. Without it, we just don't run. Being imperfect, no matter how hard we try to keep ourselves clean, little (or big) pieces of dirt always manage to find their way into our life. This dirt is, of course, sin. Being the faulted creatures that we are, no matter how hard we try, we sin, we get dirty. This sin then becomes a part of us, getting into our heart. We sin once and it gets into our being, becoming part of us, sometimes without us even knowing it. We know this because we constantly make selfish and/or bad decisions. Our heart is dirty, like a carburetor without a fuel filter. It is said in the bible that what comes out of our mouths is a reflection of our heart. I don't know about you, but I've said some pretty bad things to people. And eventhough I try to do good, there is selfishness still hidden in the good things that I do. Unfortunately, when we die, we are placed before the judgement seat of Almighty God where He will look at our heart and know everything that we have done. But we already know our heart is dirty, that we run bad. But there's hope. Some 2000 years ago in the town of Bethlehem a child was born. This child grew up and lived the perfect life that we cannot, because He is God. He was able to keep His heart clean. In the end, He was crucified for our sin, our dirt. When He completed this, He made a sin filter available to everyone. His act of dying was a voluntary act to become the fuel filter that we all need to run good and allow our hearts to remain dirtless before God. Without Him as the filter over our hearts, we will stand before our maker as bikes with dirty carburetors. Does this mean that we no longer sin, no. Like gas, souls still get dirt in them, but because of the power of God, we have the chance to repent and therefore "capture the dirt" before it settles into our heart. If we accept this filter that Jesus is offering, when we go stand before the Almighty when we die, He will see our hearts as clean.

So in conclusion I ask you- is your bike running with a fuel filter?

2 comments:

Sam said...

Fuel injection, baby! I don't think I've ever heard the gospel portrayed through dirtbikes. I like it. :D

Pictures on your profile: when you log in to the dashboard, your profile should be in the top right. I believe you need to have a URL for the first picture you post up there. If you don't have a good one on facebook, you can just link to one you post on your blog, or start flickr account or something. Any of these will work. Give me a call if it's not working. we'll figure it out.

Posting pics to your blog: When you click to create a post, in the WYSIWYG editor (that's what you see is what you get for those who haven't made web pages before. i.e. the editor that saved people like me when I had to make a web page for the class I taught), there should be a little picture icon between the spellcheck icon and the eraser icon. Click on it, and from there you should be able to browse pics on your computer and upload them to the site. Peace homie. By the way, it's spring here in KY, and infinitely nicer than FL from now through October. I have to gloat now, because all those winter months are obviously better down south.

Sam said...

I just realized your question "how do I post pics to my blog" might also apply to posting them on the sidebar. If so, it's in the template layout. If you're using the new blogger, there should be a link that says "add a new page element" click it and then you can add photos. All the links and stuff on the side can be adjusted by clicking and dragging them up and down the sidebar too.