How Much Christ?

If I asked you right now “How much gas do you have in your car?” most of you would come pretty close to a correct answer. Either you just recently filled up so you know that you’re pretty close to full. On the other hand, you know that the light is probably on (or getting ready to be) so you know that you’re close to empty. Other than that, barring any other mechanical problems, your mind goes to whenever you filled up last, subtracting how many days you’ve been driving around considering the errands you’ve ran. Funny thing is, we’re all keenly aware of what a confidence boost it is to have a full tank - especially if you have one of those considerate loved ones who fills your tank dutifully or as a surprise. Something about it feels like you could go anywhere or at the very least you know that it will be days before you have to worry about your fuel level (unless you have one heck of a commute).

Now in spiritual terms, it’s not much of a stretch to associate ‘fuel’ with spiritual confidence or faith or 'the mind of Christ'. Sadly, most of us live like we’re desperately poor: Our tanks are never full and we know just about how far we can go with the light on before we put just a few bucks in to where we can briefly feel just a little better that the light goes out. Why? I wish I knew. Sometimes I wonder do we avoid a full tank out of fear that The Lord will require us to go someplace far. Or could it be that everyone we know lives on empty, and although it’s a boost to our egos to have more than most, we’ve really become comfortable with having just enough for now and something about being a 'full tank Christian' conjures images of something less then desirable. Sometimes we just have to admit that there’s other things that we’d rather be full of.

Here’s The Word:

Ephesians 3:19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

Ephesians 5:18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;

Colossians 1:9 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;

If you’ve never heard Ephesians 5:18 explained, outside of the obvious, here’s what I think is one of the best points; In the original Greek, the phrase ‘but be filled’ is in the “emphatic” which is more aptly read as ‘keep on continually being filled all the way to the top’. I just think the phraseology is awesome and when I put it in the context of the car scenario, it’s like driving around with your car connected to a fuel truck where the fuel truck is also connected to a fuel truck …and so on…and so on.

So when The Word encourages us to be filled, it’s a testament to two parts: It’s not about getting a ‘fresh filling’ at some conference but a daily, continual desire for fullness, and also that there is a FULL GOD who can and desires to pour into you (to the full) continually – all you have to do is be where HE is.

So let this be an encouragement. Look at your situation, check your gauge and ask yourself – Am I comfortable with a less than full tank? Or do I desire to run on ‘other stuff’? Back in the day you couldn’t pump your own gas. You’d pull into the station and an attendant would run out and clean your windshield and ask you “How Much?” and you’d respond with how much gas of “Regular or Unleaded” you wanted him to pump. Running on FULL Christ is better than any other fuel. Its not cheap gas but here’s the good news; It’s paid for and abundantly available. So How much Christ can He fill you up with?


In Him,
Cros