The other day I was merging onto the highway in my cage, heading into a sea of morning commuters going to work.
Like most bikers, I have that "sixth sense" to see motorcycles all around me. Every dog knows their own, because we ride, we see each other.
But don't get me started on that!
Anyway, I noticed this bike merging in just behind me. He quickly sped up into the rapidly disappearing lane. Next, he sped ahead of me (I gave him room) and then I watched as he "frogger style" weaved in and out of the traffic, (posted speed was 70) and finally disappeared from my field of vision.
Now remember this is commuter traffic. It's thick with people.
As I watched this fellow rider cutting people off, I became very much aware of the fact that to this group of cages he was the only motorcycle in sight. And as our representative, he showed himself to be everything people dislike about motorcycles. His riding displayed a lack of respect for those around him.
I felt very much misrepresented.
Reading Romans 2 today,
"if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light for those who are in the dark, an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of little children, because you have in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth— you, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal? You who say that people should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? You who boast in the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law? As it is written: "God's name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you." Romans 2:19-24 (NIV)
We need to be very mindful of how our own lives represent the Living God we serve. Not all bikers are like the rider I saw, but to those who saw what I saw, that is the impression of all of us that they were left with.
I find this an all too painful reminder for myself.
Is God's name glorified or blasphemed because of the life I live?
Our lives, how we live, what we say and do, will speak louder than anything else to the world around us.
How are you representing Jesus today?
