MIRRORS OR WINDOWS?
Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Colossians 3:1-4
What do you have in your soul? Mirrors or windows?
If your soul is full of mirrors, your focus will be on yourself. Everywhere you look, you will see your own reflection. Everything that happens in life will be about you. You will interpret your circumstances, good or bad, from your own viewpoint. You will be self-absorbed and self-focused. You will be the centre of your life and you will expect everything to revolve around you. You will end up becoming bitter because you will see yourself as the victim of your circumstances.
If your soul is full of windows, your perspective will be outward-looking. You will recognize God’s hand in all your circumstances. Other people will be important to you and you will see others’ needs before your own. Life will be an adventure because, as you look out of your windows, you will see opportunities to overcome and possibilities to grow instead of problems and difficulties to drag you down.
There are examples of these two different viewpoints in Scripture. King Saul had been rejected by God from being king because of his partial obedience. David had been anointed in his place and was living in God’s favor and blessing. King Saul’s jealousy of David drove him to desperate measures to get rid of him. On one occasion, David went to the priest, Ahimelech, at Nob to ask for help. When Saul found out that David had been to the priest, he gathered his officials together at Gibeah. Listen to his accusation as he lashed out at them:
“Listen, men of Benjamin! Will the son of Jesse give all of you fields and vineyards? Will he make you commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds? Is that why you have all conspired against me? No one tells me when my son makes a covenant with the son of Jesse. None of you is concerned about me or tells me that my son has incited my servant to lie in wait for me, as he has today.” (1 Samuel 22:7,8). Wow! Saul certainly lived in a house of mirrors.
Joseph had a completely different outlook on life. After unjustly suffering 13 years of hardship as a slave and a prisoner in Egypt because of his brothers’ hatred, instead of taking revenge after his father’s death, he acknowledged God’s hand on his life and freely forgave his brothers. This is what he said, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” (Genesis 50:19). He saw God in his circumstances and rejoiced in His favor.
The problem with a soul full of mirrors is that the walls tend to move inwards until one is imprisoned in one’s own cell of self-pity! “For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and the gospel, will save it” (Mark 8:35).
The Apostle Paul counsels us where to look, not In the mirror that only reflects our own faces but in the mirror of God’s Word where we both see and reflect the glory of Jesus. Gazing at Him, not ourselves, will transform us, slowly but surely, into His image. 1818 And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image