Long before I became a Christian in 1978 I had lost my driver's licence due to some silly behaviour. Because I had been disqualified from driving for over a year, I had to resit all of my licences. I was due to do this just a few months after becoming a Christian.
I want that bike!
As I was walking home from work one day back in 1979, I saw a bike in a bike shop that appealed to me. It was a 1976 Yamaha XS 650 B.
The bike was only two years old and I felt a connection with it. I asked God if I could have the bike. I had absolutely no money and in those days purchasing goods with no deposit was not an option.
The Promise
I made a deal with God. I was just a few weeks (two or three I think) from resitting my licences. I told Him that if He let me have the bike I wouldn't ride it until I got my licence again.
Money
The only way I was going to get that bike was if I could get a loan. With my past that in itself would take a miracle! So I went to a bank and asked for a $2,000 loan. And then I went to another bank.. and another. It seemed that no-one was going to help me out. I had pretty well given up when I saw another bank that I hadn't tried. Part of me said "what's the use", but another part of me felt to give this bank a shot.
I walked into the bank and was greeted by the manager, who just happened to be near the doorway. He asked me if he could help me and I told him what I was after. He asked me what my name was, and when I told him, he asked me if I was from Levin and was my dad's name Ivan. I told him that yes, that was right. He didn't hesitate. Based on my dad's good name I was granted the loan immediately!
The Purchase
So I got my bike! I can't remember how I got it home, but I know I didn't ride it. I had made a promise to God that I wouldn't. The bike sat in the shed for what seemed like a lifetime.
Temptation
And then one day it happened. A number of guys from church came round on their motorbikes and told me they were going out on a run. I wanted to go with them so badly it hurt! I knew all too well the promise I had made to God and that I shouldn't even consider going with them, but I was a foolish human..
The Broken Promise
Yep, I went out on my bike with no licence, breaking the promise that I had made to God. I was so nervous! The other guys all sped off on their bikes and I got left behind because I was so aware of breaking my promise that I didn't want to make things any worse by breaking the law as well. I stuck to the speed limits, obeying every road rule and still felt terrible about breaking my promise.
The Accident
My friends had all raced off ahead of me. We were on the outskirts of town and as I was coming up to a bend in the road I came up behind a very slow car. The visibilty was good and I could see that no cars were approaching from further up, so I pulled out to pass the car on the bend. I didn't know the road markings were there and it was raining. Not a good mix as I was about to find out. As I passed the car I rode over the markings and the handlebars began tank slapping as the front tyre hit the slippery white paint, then the road, then the slippery paint again. I lost control of the bike and ended up sliding down the road with the bike on its side.
I got picked up by the ambulance some time later (it seemed like ages!) and carted off to hospital. I had split my left forearm down to the bone and needed two layers of thirteen stitches to close that up. I had a minor graze on my back and third degree grazes the length of my left leg. I was a month off work and had to undergo very painfull dressing changes every day. It was not a good experience.
My bike suffered a dented tank and other damage and it was several weeks before I was able to ride it again.
God's Fault?
No, I do not blame God. It was my own stupidity. The Bible says Hebrews 10:31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
The Bible also says James 5:12 But before all things, my brothers, do not swear; neither by the heaven nor by the earth, nor any other oath. But let your yes be yes, and your no, no, lest you fall into condemnation.
The bottom line is that God could have protected me, but I had removed myself from His grace by breaking a promise.
I sometimes wonder if God is seen so much as being loving and caring (which He is), that we forget that He is also a Judge and a punisher of transgressors.
2Chronicles 24:20 And the Spirit of God came on Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, who stood above the people and said to them, So says God, Why do you transgress the commandments of Jehovah so that you cannot be blessed? Because you have forsaken Jehovah, He has also forsaken you.
Let your yes be yes
It is a good thing not to make promises to God, but let your yes be yes. Be true to your word and bless God with joyfull obedience!
Proverbs 9:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
Forgiven
I apologised to God and asked Him to forgive me for breaking a promise and for being so stupid. His grace is awesome because He did forgive me and He allowed me to continue in a fabulous relationship with Him. There is no place that I would rather be than walking in a right relationship with Him.
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I want that bike!
As I was walking home from work one day back in 1979, I saw a bike in a bike shop that appealed to me. It was a 1976 Yamaha XS 650 B.
The bike was only two years old and I felt a connection with it. I asked God if I could have the bike. I had absolutely no money and in those days purchasing goods with no deposit was not an option.
The Promise
I made a deal with God. I was just a few weeks (two or three I think) from resitting my licences. I told Him that if He let me have the bike I wouldn't ride it until I got my licence again.
Money
The only way I was going to get that bike was if I could get a loan. With my past that in itself would take a miracle! So I went to a bank and asked for a $2,000 loan. And then I went to another bank.. and another. It seemed that no-one was going to help me out. I had pretty well given up when I saw another bank that I hadn't tried. Part of me said "what's the use", but another part of me felt to give this bank a shot.
I walked into the bank and was greeted by the manager, who just happened to be near the doorway. He asked me if he could help me and I told him what I was after. He asked me what my name was, and when I told him, he asked me if I was from Levin and was my dad's name Ivan. I told him that yes, that was right. He didn't hesitate. Based on my dad's good name I was granted the loan immediately!
The Purchase
So I got my bike! I can't remember how I got it home, but I know I didn't ride it. I had made a promise to God that I wouldn't. The bike sat in the shed for what seemed like a lifetime.
Temptation
And then one day it happened. A number of guys from church came round on their motorbikes and told me they were going out on a run. I wanted to go with them so badly it hurt! I knew all too well the promise I had made to God and that I shouldn't even consider going with them, but I was a foolish human..
The Broken Promise
Yep, I went out on my bike with no licence, breaking the promise that I had made to God. I was so nervous! The other guys all sped off on their bikes and I got left behind because I was so aware of breaking my promise that I didn't want to make things any worse by breaking the law as well. I stuck to the speed limits, obeying every road rule and still felt terrible about breaking my promise.
The Accident
My friends had all raced off ahead of me. We were on the outskirts of town and as I was coming up to a bend in the road I came up behind a very slow car. The visibilty was good and I could see that no cars were approaching from further up, so I pulled out to pass the car on the bend. I didn't know the road markings were there and it was raining. Not a good mix as I was about to find out. As I passed the car I rode over the markings and the handlebars began tank slapping as the front tyre hit the slippery white paint, then the road, then the slippery paint again. I lost control of the bike and ended up sliding down the road with the bike on its side.
I got picked up by the ambulance some time later (it seemed like ages!) and carted off to hospital. I had split my left forearm down to the bone and needed two layers of thirteen stitches to close that up. I had a minor graze on my back and third degree grazes the length of my left leg. I was a month off work and had to undergo very painfull dressing changes every day. It was not a good experience.
My bike suffered a dented tank and other damage and it was several weeks before I was able to ride it again.
God's Fault?
No, I do not blame God. It was my own stupidity. The Bible says Hebrews 10:31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
The Bible also says James 5:12 But before all things, my brothers, do not swear; neither by the heaven nor by the earth, nor any other oath. But let your yes be yes, and your no, no, lest you fall into condemnation.
The bottom line is that God could have protected me, but I had removed myself from His grace by breaking a promise.
I sometimes wonder if God is seen so much as being loving and caring (which He is), that we forget that He is also a Judge and a punisher of transgressors.
2Chronicles 24:20 And the Spirit of God came on Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, who stood above the people and said to them, So says God, Why do you transgress the commandments of Jehovah so that you cannot be blessed? Because you have forsaken Jehovah, He has also forsaken you.
Let your yes be yes
It is a good thing not to make promises to God, but let your yes be yes. Be true to your word and bless God with joyfull obedience!
Proverbs 9:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
Forgiven
I apologised to God and asked Him to forgive me for breaking a promise and for being so stupid. His grace is awesome because He did forgive me and He allowed me to continue in a fabulous relationship with Him. There is no place that I would rather be than walking in a right relationship with Him.
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