Mirrors

For most people, and for most of history, it has been a luxury to own a mirror. There were very few reflective materials of any quality in ancient times. Bronze was often used for mirrors among fashionable women in early civilisations. However, this was a rare commodity that only gave a fuzzy result. Being a luxury item it would not filter through to the poor.

Some years ago, I came across an inexpensive way of bringing delight to children in poorer parts of the world by giving them something that would reflect their face. For many this may indeed be the very first time they actually see what they look like! It was all to do with old CDs. I was about to have a whole consignment of them recycled. But one lady in the north of England found out and persuaded me to change my mind. Her church was taking old CDs, putting little stickers on the non-reflective side of them and attaching a ribbon whereby the CD could be pinned up on a wall. The reflective side, albeit with a hole in the middle, could be used as a mirror. What a brilliant way to add value to the shoeboxes full of gifts which were being sent out to these children for Christmas!

There are occasional references to mirrors in the Bible. One is from the apostle Paul. In 1 Corinthians 13 he describes our earthly selves as being like someone looking at a dim reflection in a mirror. By contrast, in heaven there will be complete transparency. We will see each other face to face, and we will know fully even as God fully knows us.

Another instance that comes to mind is an amusing reference from a letter of James, the half-brother of the Lord Jesus. He says that a person who hears God’s word but doesn't act upon it is like a man who sees his getting-up-in-the-morning face in a mirror. He looks himself up and down, but in the end he wants to forget that face. He has a perfunctory shave, turns away and immerses himself in the working day. The person who is obedient to God's will and purpose is like somebody who stoops down to look at all the truth God has given him. He really takes notice of it, weighs it up, and puts it into practice in his life.

This is what we should be like. It is easy to think we've completed our daily devotions, when really we've only been through the motions. God wants us not only to read His word, not even just to think it is impressive, but to take it on board and put it into practice.

The Lord Jesus always practised what he preached and urged others to do the same. He predicted he would be put to death, rise again and return to His Father in heaven. He undertook not to cut His followers adrift, but to make His death an offering for the ransom of many. Thank God that our Lord Jesus was not like the man who ran away from the reality that the mirror showed!

For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. 1 Corinthians 13:12 ESV

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