We have all succumbed to the temptation to keep on clicking, even after the pump has stopped, indicating that our gasoline tank is full. If we could just squeeze a bit more into the tank, some extra miles, would that not be worth it? But when all the facts are taken into consideration, that extra gallon is probably not worth the negative effects on the vehicle, the environment, or our pocketbooks. After some research I found that all US market automobiles have a closed-circuit system to trap and later burn fumes from the gas tank. The repeated process of topping the tank with too much gasoline can result in a check engine light, a failed emissions test, and costly repairs. Overfilling your tank feeds gas vapors from the pump back into the station’s tank to prevent those vapors from escaping back into the environment, so you are actually paying the gas station to take some of their fuel back, not to mention the mess created when the gas drizzles down the fender of the car and onto your shoes.
So filled to the brim is not always the best scenario, unless we are speaking of a life. When Abraham, man of faith and father of the nation of Israel, ends his earthly pilgrimage, this epitaph is written concerning him: “Then Abraham gave up the ghost, and died in a good old age, an old man, and full of years; and was gathered to his people.” The original Hebrew text can be translated an old man and full. When Abraham breathed his last breath and entered eternity, he was full. Not only had he lived for 175 years, but he had gained a wealth of valuable life-lessons along the way. At the youthful age of 75, Abram “departed out of Haran,” left all he knew, and followed God’s leading, looking for that city whose “builder and maker was God.” He had a lapse in faith and “went down to Egypt,” but returned to land of promise, interceded for a wayward nephew, plunged into a second marriage in an attempt to help God fulfill His promise of an heir, endured God’s silence for years, then finally shared with his dear wife the joy of the birth of Isaac, the “son in his old age.” He would willingly offer that son back to God, only to learn that Jehovah-jireh would “provide himself a lamb.” In sorrow he would bury Sarah and in prudence he would responsibly dispose of all that he had to his heirs.
Abraham faced trials that grew his character; he triumphed and suffered defeats, but at the end of his days he was satisfied and ready to be “gathered” home for a blessed heavenly reunion. He had successfully run his race and was ready to go home. That’s a testimony I would love to have at the end of my days.
II Timothy 4:6 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
Lord, I want to fight the good fight, run a faithful race, and be ‘full of days.’ Help me to live my life filled to the brim with devotion to You.