My husband and I went on a group motorcycle ride one Saturday.  It was sponsored by the Brother’s Keepers Motorcycle Club and all proceeds went to assist children who were burn victims to go to camp.  Registration started at 8:30.  Everyone that registered and paid their fee was given a ticket for door prizes to be given away at the end of the ride.

There were close to 40 bikes when we first left the parking lot at 10:00.  As often happens when we ride, my mind began to ponder to so many things.  It’s easy when we ride to think about things because of the lack of distractions.  There’s no radio to listen to.  I don’t have my phone out.  There’s no conversation.  Just God and me, my thoughts and His creation.

As we left the parking lot, two law enforcement officers and one representative from the fire department blocked the two north bound lanes of the highway so that we could all pull out as a group.  After we were all on the highway, the law enforcement officers then went around us to block three more signals before their escort ended.  Before riding in a couple of motorcycle runs, I often wondered why a group like that was allowed to go through intersections unimpeded while others had to wait.  Safety is the biggest issue.   Other vehicles are more aware of a large group of motorcycles traveling close together and hopefully they won’t risk pulling out in front of the group as they might would if there were gaps in between the bikes.

We got off the primary routes and onto some back country roads.  We went through several different counties and on roads I had never travelled before. I noticed people outside in their yards going about their Saturday morning tasks.  Yards were being mowed.  Fields of corn were being cut.  A load of chickens were being delivered to some chicken houses.  Sometimes people continued with their work and sometimes I would see people stop to look at the group as we went by.

We also saw some of the lingering results of the Hurricane Florence that had come through the area.  There was dirt and debris still along the edge of the roads.  Gravel was across the road in some places.  And of course, there was some not so pleasant smelling road kill we passed by.  Another part about riding in a group is that one rider will try to alert the riders behind him about debris in the road that can be hazardous for a motorcycle to ride over.  As a result, a wave of hand motions pointing at the obstacle flows through the pack, starting from the ones in the front and continues with each rider, until the last one is aware of any danger.

When we came to an intersection, the leader would stop at the stop sign and when it was clear, he would make the turn.  Two bikes would pull into the travel lane and block any oncoming traffic and allow the rest of the group to pull out.  The two riders would then pull into the rear, their service to the group appreciated.  Time and again, the riders directly behind the leader would pull over at a new road and allow safe passage for the rest.  When we started out, my husband and I were in the middle of the group.  By the time we stopped, we were very close to being directly behind the leader.

We got to the end of the ride a couple hours later.  Food was available for lunch and people just hung out for a while, talking about the ride.  Then finally the door prizes were given out.  There were different gifts awarded worth varying amounts.  Once that was done, people began saying their goodbyes and going their way.

As I previously said, so many thoughts went through my mind as we rode.  The main topic that kept coming to mind was the lesson Christ taught His disciples that to be first, one has to be last.

We had one main leader that knew the route.  He maintained that position the whole time.  As a believer, Christ is our Leader.  When we faithfully follow Him, we won’t get lost.  We won’t get left behind.  We will arrive at our ultimate destination someday.  And when we do, we will enjoy the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.  We will enjoy endless fellowship with other believers and with our Lord.  We will be given our rewards that we earned because of having our names registered into the Book of Life.

I don’t know if the ones who started out right behind the leader knew that they would be expected to sacrifice their position to be of a service to others.  But I know that after being close to the leader, they willingly humbled themselves to help the rest.  When we follow the leadership of Christ, we will be led to humble ourselves before others in service.  But the wondrous thing is, it doesn’t feel like a sacrifice at all.  Each time we humble ourselves and put ourselves last, God will start raising us back up, just as we ended up being close to the front when we ended the trip.

The lesson of staying close together was also exhibited.  At one point in the ride, it became evident that part of the back of the group had dropped out of sight.  The leader pulled over to a safe location and we followed him.  We waited for just a couple minutes before it was decided someone needed to turn back from where we just came from to find those who were not with us.  A short time later, the group that had gotten left behind showed up.  We learned that a couple bikers had experienced a slight mishap and the riders behind them all stopped until they could once again get started back on their journey.  The group was safely back together and the one who had fallen was taken care of.  Were we not all part of a group, some would have fallen by the wayside and would have struggled alone.

So it is in our daily Christian walk.  Christ is the Great Shepherd.  He will leave the flock to go fetch one lost sheep.  But the body also is instructed to care for one another.  As brothers and sisters in Christ, we can encourage, edify, care for and lift each other up in prayer.  A hard life is made easier with Godly friends.

I thought about all the people we passed by.  Many were going about their life doing their own things.  Some never gave the roar of motors passing a single glance.  Others would turn and look at us, a few giving friendly waves of their hands.  It made me wonder.  Am I living the type of life that just makes noise, but fail to get the message of Christ out to others?  Or am I living in a way that hopefully is getting the positive attention of those who are open to hearing the message of salvation?  I long to have folks see me that want to throw up their hand and ask to join along on my journey toward heaven.

Then concerning the wave of hand motions that start at the front of the group and travels from biker to biker until all are warned of danger.  This journey we are traveling is full of dangers and pitfalls. Life is hard.  As believers in Christ, we have words of warning to offer.  Yes, we are to share the marvelous message of Christ and share the way for people to be saved.  But we also need to warn them if they are traveling in the wrong direction and try to assist them in getting on the right path.  Even after getting saved and getting on the path to heaven, we need to share the warning that there will be obstacles in our path from time to time.  The road to Heaven is not always smooth and even, but when we continue to faithfully follow our Leader and stay close to our brothers and sisters in Christ, the road can be navigated successfully.

What about you?  Have you registered for this journey to Heaven?  Are you trying to travel this journey alone?  Are you heeding the warning signs along the way?

Christ died on a cross for the sins of each one of us.  Then He resurrected from the dead, ascended to heaven and lives to make intercession for us.  When we receive the salvation He offers, He will be our Leader on this journey of life.  He will faithfully guide us around pitfalls, warn us of the dangers to stay away from, and place us in His family of believers to travel alongside us.  It’s not always easy, but the reward that is waiting for us at our destination will be out of this world!