It’s early in the morning and you have just awakened from sleep. You prepare for the day. You look at yourself in something we call a mirror.
Sometimes we just take a glance at ourselves, and sometimes that glance is a gaze. It depends on how much of a rush we’re in.
I want us to take a long look at ourselves in God’s mirror and I intend to aid you in this endeavor. James wrote,
“For if any one is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a mirror: for he beholdeth himself, and goeth away, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But he that looketh into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and so continueth, being not a hearer that forgetteth but a doer that worketh, this man shall be blessed in his doing” (James 1:23-25 ASV).
Let us consider some points to help us examine ourselves in God’s mirror which is the Bible.
God’s mirror shows us who He is.
How do we know who God is outside of scripture? One can look at the creation, which shows His handiwork (Psa. 19:1-4), and think to himself, “something made all this” but without the scriptures we would have no clue who did.
God’s word is from His own breath (2 Tim. 3:16-17). David describes God’s word as:
“The law of Jehovah is perfect, restoring the soul: The testimony of Jehovah is sure, making wise the simple. The precepts of Jehovah are right, rejoicing the heart: The commandment of Jehovah is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of Jehovah is clean, enduring for ever: The ordinances of Jehovah are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the droppings of the honeycomb. Moreover by them is thy servant warned: In keeping them there is great reward” (Psa. 19:7-11 ASV).
The Bible reveals to us who God is!
He is loving (1 John 4:8).
He is “gracious, and merciful; Slow to anger, and of great lovingkindness” (Psa. 145:8).
He will be our judge (John 12:48).
He will do right (Gen. 18:25).
When we examine the scriptures that reveal our God to us, we can be like the Psalmist David who said “What is man, that thou art mindful of him? And the son of man, that thou visitest him?” (Psalms 8:4 ASV).
God’s mirror shows us who we are.
The Bible reveals to us that God made us in His image (Gen. 1:26-27). It reveals to us what God expects of us (Micah 6:8). It reveals our shortcomings as well (Gen. 3; Rom. 3:23).
God has not left us guessing what He expects of us. His will is revealed in the pages of scripture.
I mentioned the question David posed regarding man. What is man? We are finite beings who are promised by an infinite God eternal life.
God cares about us so much that He has given everything and has withheld nothing from us (John 3:16; Rom. 8:32)!
We must not take a quick glance at the mirror of God’s word. We must thoroughly examine ourselves (2 Cor. 13:5). James wrote:
“But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deluding your own selves. For if any one is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a mirror: for he beholdeth himself, and goeth away, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was” (James 1:22-24 ASV).
Let us practice what God has told us so we can please Him.
God’s mirror provides hope to man who needs hope.
Life is hard. That is just the truth.
However, life is not without hope. God gives us hope through Jesus Christ His Son. This hope is like an anchor of a ship that keeps it in place without moving. The Hebrew writer penned:
“Wherein God, being minded to show more abundantly unto the heirs of the promise the immutability of his counsel, interposed with an oath; that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we may have a strong encouragement, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us: which we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and stedfast and entering into that which is within the veil; whither as a forerunner Jesus entered for us, having become a high priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek” (Heb. 6:17-20 ASV).
We can live this life despite its challenges. I love what the apostle Paul wrote. He said, “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed to us-ward” (Rom. 8:18 ASV). This hope is what drives us to keep going.
Surely after this life is over, we can shout with immense joy that “Heaven has surely been worth it all”!
So, have you looked in God’s mirror, the Bible? Will you make the changes in your life that are necessary to please Him?
We have noticed that God’s mirror shows us who He is. It shows us who we are. It provides man with the hope of eternal life.
How Awesome is our God? I am thankful that He has provided “all things that pertain to life and godliness…” (2 Peter 1:3) so that when I look at His mirror, I will not question if anything was left out.
I pray that as you look at that mirror in the morning, you will also take time to look at God’s mirror, the Bible.
Originally published on the Hope to You Blog.
Jonathan Exum preaches for the Hannibal Church of Christ in Hannibal, Missouri. Jonathan also writes articles and publishes them on the church website.
Jonathan graduated from a couple of classes behind me at the Memphis School of Preaching. Jonathan does good work in our Lord’s kingdom, and I’m grateful for his writing!
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