Mirrors. They reveal what we look like on the outside. Important? Not really but we all care, at least a little, about our outward appearance. God, on the other hand, cares about what we look like on the inside. Jesus was chastising the Pharisees when he called them "whitewashed tombs" beautiful on the outside but on the inside were full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean. We can look at the Pharisees and say, "Yeah! You guys are hypocrites!" But, we better be careful not to throw stones in glass houses.
First I'd like to remind us that our spiritual mirror isn't made of glass but God's Word. All of the make-up, hairspray, neatly pressed shirts, plastic surgery, and hours in the gym can't hide our true selves. God sees right through them. He knows us. Comforting and convicting at the same time. When we look into God's Word what do we see about ourselves? Do we look like Jesus or do we look like the World? I venture to say that most of us look a lot more like the World than like Jesus.
So, we run to the spiritual cosmetic shop and do a little cover up; couple nice things here, a church service there, tune into the local Christian station, and say "Amen!" when someone says something we agree with. Bad things? Heck no but maybe only window dressing. Trust me. I've deck myself out with Christian garments only to look into the mirror of God's Word to see a little Pharisee. So, if you're like me you might want to gaze for a second in the light of the Word and see what God sees. Jesus' words from the Sermon on the Mount is a good place to start:
“You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment." Matthew 5:21-22
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. Matthew 5:27-28
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:43-45
Wow, that's some tough teaching. Do we honestly live lives devoted to God or do we live like the world, doing religious things on Sunday and Wednesday evenings? Do we read the same novels, watch the same vile TV shows, and listen to the same music? Do we get a little buzzed on the weekends with our friends and laugh at the same off-color jokes? Do we speak the name of Jesus to anyone outside of the Church building? Do we praise God on Sunday and curse those made in his image on Monday? If we look in the spiritual mirror, do we look a little like I did that awful morning in the glass mirror - lacking something?
I pray that you look closely at yourself today reevaluate your spiritual reflection. We all need to do that time and again so that we don't get to content with were we are in our walk with Christ.
Peace in Jesus,
David
