Full Yet?
No doubt we all have had plenty of meals lately and most likely have made multiple visits to the desert dishes. When contemplating “fullness”, we most often think of our stomach and the sensation after overeating. But do we ever think that there are many ways, and many things with which we can “fill” ourselves?
God’s blessings to Israel, even in the midst of their murmuring in the wilderness, so they might “be filled”, included quail in the evenings and manna in the mornings. Exodus 16:12 tells why this was done for them. I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel: speak unto them, saying, At even ye shall eat flesh, and in the morning ye shall be filled with bread; and ye shall know that I am the LORD your God.
Not everything with which one can be filled comes from someone else. A person can “fill” him or herself selfishly from within. Proverbs 14:14 tells of the (mind) of some, and with what it is filled. The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways: and a good man shall be satisfied from himself. We must be careful, lest we allow ourselves to become as Haman in Esther 5:9 and be “filled” with hate toward another. Then went Haman forth that day joyful and with a glad heart: but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king's gate, that he stood not up, nor moved for him, he was full of indignation against Mordecai.
Even in the face of calamity one can be “filled”. Perhaps this is why the Spirit have the penman record the words of Job, after Job had seemingly lost all his worldly goods and most of his family. Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble. (Job 14:1) However, not all “filling” takes place within a person. God had a plan from the beginning, and “filling” was part of it. Habakkuk 2:14 reads: For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.
The time for the earth to be “filled with” the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, had not come when this was written during the Old Testament. It was a prophecy. The Messiah had not yet been sent. Jesus had yet to die on Calvary’s cross, be buried, arise and ascend back to the Father. This plan of God was still a mystery when Habakkuk wrote. In 1Corinthians 2:7 we see the Spirit had Paul write of this. But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: God’s plan has become a reality, and was being revealed in the Word the Spirit was delivering to His servants, like Paul. James was also of this number. In James 3:17 we read: But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. God’s Word is that wisdom from above.
This is very evident in Ephesians 3:3-6, and we can “fully” understand the mystery and how it was revealed. How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, 4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) 5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; 6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:
God used the necessary “helps” in the absence of the written N. T. Word to bring that plan to fruition. Ephesians 4:10-13 speaks of these things God put in place to bring us to the “fullness of Christ”. He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, (Christ) that he might fill all things.) 11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: For this, all Christians should be “fully” and eternally thankful.
In Ephesians 3:14-19the Spirit had Paul show how he expressed his deep gratitude to God and how all mankind could benefit from the great gift of sacrifice offered by Christ and His death on the cross. For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; 17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
Be careful with what you “fill” yourself, as each is responsible for their own destiny. 2Corinthians 5:10 shows us this. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. Choose wisely.
Dennis Strickland – Mooresville church of Christ
