I remember the first time I encountered the above initials on a biker’s vest. A whole bunch o’ years ago, I was walking across a piece of common ground at a rally campsite in Oklahoma, andhe was approaching me with a vest-full of patches – “DILLIGAF,”wings shaped like a woman’s legs, and a variety of other “biker-distinctive” (if you get my drift) patches. In fact, the ol’ boy had a nametag patch that was also “unique,” to say the least (I’d best not repeat it here!)! But, that “F T W” caught my eye ëcause in my younger days I called good ol’ Foat Wuth, Texas,home for a number of years, and I had return-addressed many a letter with “F T W.” Here, however,it was something totally different.
Yeah, the “F T W” on his vest meant, well, you know, “F- – - the world.” Man, that really got my attention, and it made me start thinking about that idea. “F” the world? “F” the world??? “F” the world?!?!?! It’s like, who cares about anything or everything – man, “F,” it all!!!
C’mon, is that really what it’s about, though? Does everything in this universe stink so much that “F T W” is all we can say about it? I know that things can get tough – bike’s broke and no money to get it fixed, the ol’ lady is raggin’ you every day to get a job, the kids got their own brand of trouble, the house note’s due, the cops are hasslin’ with every ride, the prospect you sponsored is as sorry as he can be, and. . . Or, maybe it’s more of a statement of attitude rather than reality; you know what I mean. . .
After Sunday dinner the four of us went riding, and I decided to treat everybody to a movie. We were the center of attention – stares and gawking from the local citizens – while standing in line for the movie. Amidst all this attention, Jim pulled out a plastic bag from his leathers. He nonchalantly proceeded to roll a couple of joints. . .”Tell you what, Coyote, I’ll roll, you get the popcorn.”. . .Jim was teaching me to say, “F – - – the world!” (The Rebels, Daniel R. Wolf)
Whatever! So, what is the truth, man? Well, how ’bout hearin’ from this guy?
For God so loved the world, that He gave His one and only Son. (Jesus, John 3:16)
When it comes to the world – and knowing all about it – well, Jesus is the Man (after all, He did create it!!!)! And He says that life’s so valuable in God’s sight that the ultimate sacrifice has been given for it. Dude, you’ve heard it: “Christ died for our sins. . .” That ain’t no small thing! Yeah, what’s hap’nin’ around you may suck; that’s a fact, man, but redemption is close at hand! Hey, did you note a few letters in the John 3 passage – F or God so loved T he W orld. That’s “F T W,” man!
Why don’t you give it a rest and come to Jesus? He loved sinners like you and me enough to becomeone ofus – i.e., a Man. He, too, lived in this world of woe and worry, and He died a pretty lousy death (it was inevitable for Him, too!). But, the death He died was to save those same sinners from eternal damnation which is, by all accounts, really a bad deal!!! There’s a lil’ ol’ song I love; it’s chorus goes like this, “Come to Jesus, come to Jesus, come to Jesus, and live!” C’mon, dude, don’t hold back now; you’re really close (but this ain’t horseshoes!)!
Copyright @ 2008 CrossWind Ministry
