Metaphor Monday

I love analogies.  They have always been my favorite way to learn, and my brain is constantly making connections.  So yesterday while driving I was thinking about a new analogy for my life that I love and a new plan to share an analogy each week.

One of my favorite things that my dad does is fill up my car all the way whenever he or my brother drives it somewhere.  It is sometimes tempting to let my brother borrow my car more often so that it will be filled up, but that would be taking advantage, so I don't.  Regardless, it is wonderful when I am expecting to climb into my car with the gas tank practically or sometimes less than empty and instead my gas tank is full.

See, I feel like my whole demeanor while driving is different depending on how much gas I have.  When the tank is full, I barely even think about gas.  I am unaware of gas station signs around me, and I drive to far places and offer people rides.  On the other hand, though, when my tank is empty (or more likely below empty, as I let it fall far below the E before I fill 'er up again.  My "you're out of gas" light burnt out a while ago because I was on E so often.), I look at my gauge all the time.  I know where the lowest gas around is, but I wait to see if it will go down.  I worry if I will make it to my destination, if I will make it back home.  I try to weasel my way into having others pick me up so that I don't have to drive until I get paid again.

This is the kind of worry that Jesus has set me free from.  I am empty, it is my default state, and I can do nothing apart from him, just like my car can go nowhere without gas in the tank.  But he promises to fill me if I stay connected to him, or as it says in John 15 if I abide or remain (depending on your translation) in him.  Abiding in Christ leaves my spiritual gas tank continuously full.  I don't have to worry about burning out or being too stressed or not having the resources I need to work for his purposes.  He has given me everything I need (2 Peter 1:3); he has filled me and empowered me.

When I am not making an effort to stay connected everyday, I feel the difference.  I worry about everything.  But when I focus on Christ and abide in him, I am set free.  I am more gracious to others, less concerned about myself, and more energized and encouraged than other other thing could ever do for me.  My gas tank is full, and I have nothing to worry about.