Elijah McCoy was born in Colchester, Ontario, Canada, in 1843. His parents had fled there from slavery in Kentucky in the late 1830s. When they resettled with him in Ypsilanti, Michigan, in 1849, they observed how their son demonstrated a strong mechanical aptitude. When he turned 16, they sought to enroll him in a university offering an engineering education. But they soon learned that people of black African descent were not permitted to register. Despite this obstacle, they sent him to Edinburgh, Scotland, to be trained by a mechanical engineer.

After serving as an apprentice master mechanic there for five years, McCoy returned to his parents’ home in 1864. He began searching for employment in mechanical engineering but felt he was being denied entrance to the profession due again to racism. He then took a job with the Michigan Central Railroad as a steam locomotive fireman and oiler. His duties included throwing wood and coal into the engine’s firebox, the flames of which generated steam to power the locomotive.

He was also responsible to keep the engine well-oiled to prevent damage due to overheating. Although the axles and bearings of the railroad cars (carriages) were lubricated automatically by oil-filled chambers, the locomotive engine was not—as its intense steam pressure pushed oil away from moving parts. Thus the train had to stop periodically so McCoy could exit the operator’s cab to manually lubricate the engine.

McCoy’s highly successful invention

Taking advantage of his mechanical engineering skills, McCoy began considering how steam pressure could be employed to automate oiling the engine. He set up a home machine shop where he designed, built and tested a potential device. This led him to invent his “automatic lubricator” for which he obtained a patent in 1872.

Officials at the Michigan Central Railroad offered him support by testing the mechanism on their locomotives. McCoy’s invention proved highly successful, dramatically enhancing efficiency by eliminating time-consuming lubricating stops. His original device and subsequent upgrades ultimately became standard features on locomotives throughout the United States and were adapted for stationary engines in factories and on steamships.

McCoy’s career soon took him to Detroit, where he began to focus on solving problems related to other railroad and train technicalities.

These challenges arose due to the development of larger, more powerful locomotives using “superheated steam.” McCoy proved once again to be on the leading edge of designing critical lubricating methods. In 1915 he was awarded a U.S. patent for his “locomotive lubricator.” This device allowed the use of a mixture of oil and powdered graphite, which could withstand extremely high operating temperatures.

Author and historian Robert Hayden, Jr., in his book Eight Black American Inventors (1972), quotes a letter from a railroad superintendent of that period: “We have found the McCoy graphite lubricator to be of considerable assistance in lubrication of locomotives equipped with superheaters. There is a decided advantage in better lubrication and reduction of wear in valves and piston rings.”

Inventions of superior design and quality

Throughout his career, McCoy continued refining his engineering skills and products, over time obtaining at least 57 U.S. patents. His inventions generated enormous respect because they represented superior design and quality.

Although competing mechanisms were available, most purchasing agents sought McCoy’s authentic equipment. Many of them insisted on what they termed “the real McCoy,” meaning the industry standard, the best of its kind or that of the highest quality.

Elijah McCoy died in 1928 at the age of 85. His legacy of distinctive excellence lives on today through the expression that bears his name. The phrase “the real McCoy” migrated from industrial to consumer applications and remains in general use in much of the English-speaking world.

For example, people often use the slogan when referring to “brand-name” consumer merchandise. They prefer such products because they trust that the manufacturer or company offers premium quality over competing brands.

Accepting “bargain-brand” Christianity?

While bargain brands may be suitable if they meet the needs they’re used for, imagine if this practice was applied to one’s Christian life and beliefs. Would anyone intentionally reject Elijah McCoy’s model of highly valuing and pursuing quality in favor of a mediocre imitation of true, biblical Christianity, something clearly inferior?

But the fact is, many people have actually done this very thing! How is this possible?

Christ gave the answer when He said: “Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying [that] I am Christ; and shall deceive many” (Matthew 24:4-5, King James Version, emphasis added throughout).

Jesus cautioned His disciples that many people would be fooled into accepting less than “the real McCoy” in terms of Christianity (see also Matthew 24:11, Matthew 24:24). The apostle Peter likewise wrote: “But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them” (2 Peter 2:1).

The apostle Paul also expressed grave concern about corrupt, fraudulent teachers and corrected some of the Christians in Corinth for easily accepting lies. They believed smooth-talking charlatans who preached heresy (2 Corinthians 11:4).

This wasn’t just a problem of that era. Paul warned that this situation would continue into our time (1 Timothy 4:1).

But why do people reject Christ’s original teachings and accept spurious ones? Although Satan the devil plays a major role in adversely influencing human beings, they themselves are not without fault (Ephesians 6:12; Romans 1:18-21). People often believe what others say about Jesus’ words, rather than studying for themselves what the Scriptures really teach (Ephesians 4:14).

The mistake of not knowing the Scriptures

Jesus rebuked the religious leaders of His day about this error when He told them: “You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God” (Matthew 22:29). People stumble over this same problem today. They believe—often without question—what their church, minister or priest has “always taught” about Christian doctrine (Matthew 15:9). However, to build a steadfast relationship with Jesus, His words and example—not the teachings of men—must be your foundation (2 Timothy 3:15).

Consider another striking question Jesus asked those who claimed they were His faithful supporters: “But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46). He emphasized this point when telling His disciples, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven” (Matthew 7:21).

And what is the Father’s will? It is that people obey His commandments (1 John 5:3; Exodus 34:28). And where can we learn how to fully obey God’s commandments? By studying His Word, the Holy Bible. And to help us in living by His Word, God tells us to not neglect regular assembly with fellow Christians (Hebrews 10:24-25). He knows we need this fellowship in God’s one true Church, “the pillar and ground of the truth” (1 Timothy 3:15).

The Church is not a building or corporation

Jesus said He would build His Church (Matthew 16:18; Acts 20:28). The Church consists of a small group of people the Father “calls out” of the world’s society into His service (John 6:44; 2 Timothy 1:9; Luke 12:32). “Church” as used in the Bible is not a building or corporation, but a spiritual body of believers who are unified in purpose, faith and love (Ephesians 4:13; 1 Corinthians 12:12; John 13:35).

The Church is also God’s spiritual family. It protects, nurtures and guides His children as they grow in character, spiritual knowledge and godly wisdom (Romans 8:16; Ephesians 2:19; 1 Timothy 3:15).

The people God calls into His Church are to “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness” (Matthew 6:33). They are also commissioned to help proclaim Jesus Christ and His gospel—meaning “good news”—of the coming Kingdom of God and to make disciples throughout the world (Matthew 24:14; Matthew 28:19). Jesus gave His repentant, Spirit-filled Church the mission of training new converts to “observe all things that I have commanded” (Matthew 28:20).

But what do we observe in the world of traditional Christianity? We see multiple thousands of denominations and organizations, each teaching contradictory and incompatible beliefs. While they preach ideas about the person of Christ as Savior, they ignore the very message He taught about the Kingdom of God (Matthew 9:35).

This results in millions who believe in Christ but know nothing about the world-ruling government He will set up on earth at His return (Isaiah 9:6-7; Zechariah 14:4) or of being part of God’s family forever. The end result is a Christianity that doesn’t understand God’s purpose for humanity!

What about your form of Christianity?

What then is the authentic form of Christianity? A person who is part of “the real McCoy” in this case will strive to have Jesus’ words guide his every thought and action (2 Corinthians 10:5). He will deeply repent of sin. He will love God above all things and be building a lasting relationship with Him through fervent prayer and Bible study (Matthew 22:37; Psalm 73:28).

A genuine Christian will recognize his complete dependence on his Creator and revere Christ as his Savior and coming King (Galatians 2:20; 2 Peter 1:11). A Christian will exhibit the fruit of God’s Spirit through loving others and doing good works (John 13:34; Galatians 5:22-23).

A Christian will assemble regularly with like-minded Church members to worship God on His weekly, seventh-day Sabbath (Friday sunset to Saturday sunset) and His annual Holy Days (see our free study guide God’s Holy Day Plan: The Promise of Hope for All Mankind).

Understanding these and other aspects of genuine Christianity is essential in identifying what a true follower of Jesus Christ does and how he lives.

Elijah McCoy drove himself to produce the highest quality lubricating devices for railroad and industrial applications, accepting nothing but the best. If you applied the demand for excellence as found in “the real McCoy” to your Christian life, how would you measure up? Are you faithfully obeying Jesus Christ and following His genuine teachings? Or are you simply believing and acting on what others say is correct?

With God only the genuine biblical standard will meet His requirements (Matthew 7:21-23; 1 Corinthians 12:31). Is your form of Christianity “the real McCoy”? If not, what are you going to do about it?