What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.
Ephesians 4:9.10
When I was a kid, and dinosaurs still roamed the earth, I remember going with my dad to get gas. We’d drive past at least six other gas stations until we arrived at “the one” where it was always cheaper. I don’t know how or why, but this one gas station was always, always, always at least a penny cheaper than everyone else.
And that penny meant a lot to my dad.
When we arrive at “the one,” my dad would drive up to the pump with one order. “Fill ’er-up.” It was never, “Give me five-dollars’ worth” or anything like that. The nozzle was put into the car, and they set the handle to run until the tank was full.
And when the automatic switch stopped the gas, they’d top it off by holding the handle down. Squeezing in as much gas as possible. It would sometimes spill onto the concrete, which would get a frown from my dad at the waste.
Funny thing about filling up a car. The moment you start the engine, from the time you put the car into drive, the tank’s not full anymore. It starts to go down. There’s nothing you can do about it. It’s just the way it is.
Think about it for a minute. When you fill something, it has to have a limit. It’s a container. It can only hold so much. You can only fill something that has limits.
You can only fill a cup only so far before it starts to overflow.
You can only fill a stadium with so many people because it’s only so big.
I remember one Thanksgiving meal at Mary Ann’s grandparents. I piled on so much turkey, stuffing, green bean casserole, succotash, and whipped potatoes that the gravy spilled over the edge of the plate and onto the tablecloth.
But God’s not limited when it comes to filling up. He didn’t just fill up the Earth. He didn’t just fill up our solar system, the Milky Way, or the universe. He created and filled all things, including things not in our physical universe.
for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see— such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him.
Colossians 1:16, NLT
When Jesus filled the “all things”, he really fills it. There’s nothing left out. There is absolutely no more room for anything else. He fills all we can see. He fills all we can think about. He fills more than we can imagine.
But unlike our car, that immediately goes from full to less than full, God’s kind of full never goes to anything less than full. God, in his fullness, fills and completes us and the “all things” with himself.
This gives us more than just a hope so, it gives us a firm and solid hope that we can base our lives on. It’s a hope that we can firmly make decision on. What we see is real, but there is more than a higher power. There is a higher person. It’s not based only on what we see, but who sees us. Who died for us. Who was raised for us. Who loves us now and for all eternity.
For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.
Habakkuk 2:14
Yes, that will be some day when this promise becomes reality. Everyone and everything will be filled to overflowing with personal knowledge and experience of the Lord[1].
But that day hasn’t arrived yet. So, we best be about our Father’s business. Telling everyone about how God loves them so much that Jesus died in their place. All the work has been done. All the heavy lifting has been completed. Our job is simple.
1. Receive his gift.
2. Let him change us.
3. Tell everyone.
It’s really that simple when we let him “fill’re-up.”
Noodling Question
How do you imagine that God fills the whole universe?
What part do we play to increase our knowledge of the glory of God?
When God overflows in our lives, what happens?
[1] Hebrews 8:11, Jeremiah 31:34
Comentarios