Christian wipes the fog from the bathroom mirror and peers anxiously at the face before him. It’s scowling. He hates to see that. Why can’t people around him be more positive? Inspecting further, he notes with alarm that an enormous zit of pride has swelled up from his heart – definitely needs attention. And those hurt feelings nearby can’t be ignored much longer- already they’re cracked and bleeding.
Definitely a work in progress, he concludes, turning away from the mirror. Must deal with it all somehow, sometime. The unappealing image fades quicker than the condensation on the mirror as Christian grabs his car keys and heads into the day. He’s already oblivious to the image of Christ he’s presenting. He’s procrastinating – again – the life improvements that need to be made, and hurting himself and the Kingdom and His Lord.
His brother Believer wipes the fog from his bathroom mirror and peers anxiously at the face before him. It’s hard to believe, but if what the Word told him is true, he’s looking at the image of God. Not perfect, mind you, but forgiven of sin and continually being remade in Christ’s likeness, going from strength to strength, and glory to glory (Ps. 84:7, 2 Cor. 3:18). He’s looking at one of the King’s own children. An heir to all that is Christ’s. Eternally saved, incredibly rich, awesomely privileged!
Wow, I need a pinch to convince myself it’s real, he thinks as he turns away from the mirror. Must spend some time trying to take that all in. But the appealing image fades faster than the condensation on the mirror as Believer grabs his car keys and heads into the day. He goes away forgetting. And so he has no defense against the Accuser who belittles him and the doubts that haunt him and the flaws and failures that keep cropping up. As the day wears on, he feels increasingly defeated and alone. And no one around him glimpses the loving, life-transforming God in whose image Believer is made.
Two men; two mirrors. Both forgot what they saw there, forgot the flaws that needed tended and the glorious reality of His image. And so both missed personal blessing, opportunity to please the Father, and effective Kingdom service.
Are we who we say we are? Spending time with Christ and His word offers us an honest, Spirit-guided look at ourselves. We see flaws that are humbling; we also see Christ’s transforming love. Things that need addressed and things that need celebrated. But we’ve got to act on what we see. What do we do with what He shows us? Do we live in His image 24/7, remembering who and Whose we are? Do we let Him deal with the flaws and continually remake us into His likeness?
“If you keep looking steadily into God’s perfect law – the law that sets you free – and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it” (James 1:25 NLT).
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