Her raven-black hair glistened and danced in the moonlight as she slowly worked her tortoiseshell brush through it. A smile emerged on her visage, pleased at the outcome that was reflected in the mirror. As she lost herself in the moment, out of the corner of her eye, an unfamiliar, vaguely unpleasant site emerged. For a moment, she hesitated, her mind sifting through possible explanations. Was it an odd interplay of shadows? A reflection of photographs in the room? No. It was no reflection or hallucination. It was a human face, a woman. In a second, she recognized her dead mother, taken from her over twenty years earlier by a suicide. A scream simultaneously burst forth from her and the image in the mirror!
I was watching a horror movie and was equally startled when that eerie face appeared in the mirror as the main character was looking at her reflection. Mission accomplished! The director achieved the effect he was desiring.
Mirror, mirror! How often do we see this macabre scenario depicted in horror films? What is it about mirrors that so readily lends itself to the mysterious and unpredictable? We are accustomed to seeing our familiar reflection, yet, we view with trepidation, the possibility that our reflection may reveal something sinister, something hidden or buried, within us.
But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.
James 1:22-25 (ESV)
For years, I lived with this fear that my past would catch up with me. When I looked in the mirror, I saw the hideous reflection of a life distorted and fractured by sin. I was living only for myself, oblivious to the needs of others. I was wholly focused upon achieving my goals, no matter the cost or how many people I had to step over to accomplish the ends.
It was only when I confessed and repented of my sins and accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior, was I able to begin to see myself how God sees me. I am a sinner but redeemed and sanctified by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. His sacrifice cleansed me and showed me a better way, a life that is focused upon serving Him and others rather than exalting myself and my selfish interests.
Mirror, mirror.
Thanks be to God that He intervened in my life and rescued me. He showed me a reflection of myself what I could truly be, instead of the helpless decaying vessel I had become.
All praise to the Living God!
Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.
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