Mirror’s Image

It dawned on me the other day, as I was looking in the mirror, all of us in the western world have something in common. Every day we start off by – looking in the mirror. I know that is really deep. (note of sarcasm) But think with me if you will about the idea of looking in the mirror.

• The #1 reason we do it – to make sure that we look presentable based on someone else’s idea.
• The #2 reason we do it – to make sure nothing is out of place based on someone else’s idea.
• The #3 reason we do it – is to make sure that we look good to ourselves, again based on someone else’s idea.

All 3 of these reasons can be summed up with the word “Reflection”! We end up reflecting other people’s ideas – for sure at least in how we look. Never really concerned about our Mirror’s Image.

Now unless you’re are a trend setter at a major clothing maker or major hair designer at a salon in NYC, LA, Paris, etc… We are all buying, using, styling, etc… someone else’s idea! It seems to me that the person that really wins is the trend setter, the one that goes all out for what they think is the right look, for the particular time of year, all for anybody that will go all in. They have pushed past the fear of rejection and failure to set a standard, they end up setting the trends!

Now all of that is based on culture, relevance, and what’s hot and what’s not. But the real thing that matters is the spiritual condition of the heart for the individual person. What’s the heart and soul of the person really like? Who are they reflecting?

As I was “reflecting on reflecting”, I immediately thought of John the Baptist in John 3:30. He said, “He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less.” Now this is coming from a guy who wore camel skins and ate locusts and wild honey. Let’s just say he probably wasn’t attracting attention in the popular “trend setting” way that many people of his time were dressing. Yet the Bible says in Matt. 3:5&6, “⁵ People from Jerusalem and from all of Judea and all over the Jordan Valley went out to see and hear John. ⁶ And when they confessed their sins, he baptized them in the Jordan River.”

Truly there are a couple things to point out about people right here…

• People can get past the “look”, if the substance is right.
• People are draw to things that God uses, in which “GREAT” substance changes the “lost” heart.

I too, shop for clothing that “looks right” in my own eye. I want a haircut that shows I am part of the 21^st century. I want to look normal, and good, and in style (at least in my opinion). All those things are part of being a part of the human race. But today the thing that really matter is not what you see in the mirror, but that which what you see in the mirror really represents; or should I say who you represent. The substance of who we are. The heart of Jesus. Will you join me in representing the Heart of Jesus in all that you do?

The next time you look in the mirror, how about uttering the prayer from John 3:30, “He (Jesus) must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less!”