Elijah was born in 1844 and was one of the eleven children of George and Mildred. They escaped slavery in Kentucky and were fugitive slaves who had escaped to Canada using the Underground Railroad. Elijah was one of twelve children. In 1847, the family to the United States and made their home in the North — Ypsilanti, Michigan.

George was financially successful in various business ventures. In 1859, when Elijah was 15 years old, he decided to send Elijah to Scotland to study at the University of Edinburgh in the field of engineering. George and Mildred recognized his strong interest and grasp of mechanics.

Elijah graduated and became a certified mechanical engineer. However, because of the racial barriers, he found it difficult to find work in the field of mechanical engineering. Therefore, he accepted a “fireman and oiler” position for the Michigan Central Railroad. “His duties included lubricating engine parts. Engines needed frequent lubrication, and each time, the trains had to be stopped and started.” [It was] an inefficient process. McCoy was convinced there was a better way and invented his automatic lubricator.” 1

Because of his interest in mechanical engineering, he began thinking about some ways of improving the mechanical parts of the trains. He realized that a train could operate with less maintenance and for a longer period of time if the axles were oiled while in operation. One of his first patented inventions was a lubricating cap that distributed oil evenly over the train’s axles.

His “Steam Engine Lubricator” was one of the most well-known, profitable, and unmatched lubrication designs he had patented. The lubricating cup saved both time and money.

Other inventors tried to copy or redesign the lubricator, but none of the imitations were as effective or durable. “1899, the Michigan Bureau of Labor and Industrial Statistics reported that the McCoy lubricator was in use on almost all North American railroads.” 1

Over his lifetime, Elijah would apply for over 50 different devices. Most of them involved lubricating machinery.

Because he lacked the money needed to produce and distribute his inventions, he would typically assign the patent rights to his employers or other investors. When a steam engine needed a lubricator replaced, only the real McCoy oil drip cup was wanted.

In 1920, Elijah Mc Coy established the “Elijah McCoy Manufacturing Company” and produced mechanical lubricators bearing his name.

In 1929, Elijah McCoy died in Detroit, Michigan, at the age of 85.

We all know there are “imitations” and “knockoffs” of watches, pocketbooks, footwear and more. After you buy them, you come to find out that they are not the “real Mc Coy.”

That is also true when it comes to peace and satisfaction. The world’s knockoffs promise peace and satisfaction, but they fail to deliver on the promise. Solomon, who was given supernatural wisdom from God, built one of the most expansive and massive of earthly kingdoms. When Solomon’s reputation spread, the Queen of Sheba visited him and stated “that the half has not been told.”

However, Solomon stated . . .

Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.

— Ecclesiastes 2:4-11 —

All was vanity or empty. The things of the world could not satisfy. They were knockoffs. They could not deliver on their promise of peace, satisfaction, or fulfillment. They were not the real McCoy.

The Lord warned His people about seeking peace and satisfaction from this world . . . .

“For My people have committed two evils:
They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters,
And hewn themselves cisterns—broken cisterns that can hold no water.”

— Jeremiah 2:13 —

One day, one of my friends, a multi-millionaire realtor who lived just across the line in Levittown, Pa., told me, “Ted, I have never met a happy millionaire . . . . including me. Stuff, position, or power will never make you happy.”

I know that some might think, “Give me a chance at bat to test out that theory. I think I can make it work.” Nevertheless, that truth has been tested out by financial giants and the children who inherited their wealth, lottery winners, people in powerful positions, and the most popular men and women. Alcohol, drugs, depression, suicide, and sexual promiscuity have wrecked the lives of the greatest.

C.S. Lewis stated,

“If we find ourselves with a desire that nothing in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that we were made for another world.”

We have been made for another world, a world where we will find rest, satisfaction, and peace in our God and Creator.

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
— Matthew 11:28-30 —

Jesus is the only real McCoy who alone can deliver on the promise of peace and satisfaction. Why not find a Bible-believing and teaching church this weekend and begin your journey on the road to real peace, satisfaction, and fulfillment?

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1 – https://www.biography.com/inventors/elijah-mccoy and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Elijah_McCoy https://web.archive.org/web/20081228104640/http://www.invent.org/ hall_of_fame/167.html