Mirrors can lie. Absolutely. Sometimes what they reflect back at us is colored with emotional overtones. We become overly critical of ourselves, and we see things not as they are, but as we imagine them to be.
Mirrors are also perfect reflections. We turn forty, we notice the lines around our eyes, and we look away, trying to remember what it was like to be thirty.
If only our mirror were a marker board, and we could give it a swipe, and our flaws would be gone. How great would that be?
1 John 1:9 says we can do exactly that:
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
This seems too simple to be true…just a swipe, and it’s all gone; forgotten; as if it never was. The lines around the eyes, the age spots, even the extra twenty pounds we’ve packed around our waist. All gone, cast aside, leaving us like a kid, ready to begin life anew.
There’s more to 1 John 1:9. Oh, that’s the entire verse, but behind it, there are things that become our responsibility, also.
We must study the scriptures. It is there that we will learn the true nature of our holy God.
“And how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.” 2 Timothy 3:15.
We must change the way we live. We are to uphold God’s standards, as revealed in his Word.
“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15.
We must be continually receptive to the leading of the Spirit of God. When we are open to his gentle nudge, we will remain on the path to him.
“And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” Ephesians 4:30.
We must never slide backwards to our old ways, for the penalty of sin is clearly laid out in the Bible.
“But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.” Revelation 21:8.
Jesus can and does wipe the sin from our marker board mirror. It’s up to us to continually polish our reflection with reading the Word, clean living, listening to God’s voice, and steering clear of our old ways. Then the truth of the Father will be all the world sees when they look at us. Christ will be reflected in our words, our actions, and in the love we show unto them.
If we don’t like what we see in the mirror we call life, turn to Jesus. He can change everything about us, wiping our flaws away.
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Code: FGO.D.04.16.vp.esv