THE BIBLE AS A “MIRROR” – One of God’s great blessings!
Jas 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: 24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. 25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
Men look at themselves through “rose colored glasses”–looking optimistically and hopefully, rather than realistically. When I look at myself, I fondly imagine more hair and fewer wrinkles and spots – but the mirror makes me “face up”! It shows me as I really am, not as I wish I was. Actually, a little wishful thinking in the area of physical attributes will not necessarily be hurtful, because nothing really changes, and the absence or presence of desirable aspects of our appearance only has an impact as it relates to our pride (which we must keep “in hand”).
Much more significant is the fact that God’s “mirror” addresses the spiritual self, and the picture it gives has eternal implications. And, His mirror reflects HIS view of me, which is entirely accurate, and fundamentally significant. His judgment of me, and the future He plans for me is based on the “real” me, not a hopeful and optimistic distortion of “me”. This spiritual image even includes my secret thoughts and desires and, based upon Scripture’s approval or disapproval of them, helps me to constantly engage in profitable self-examination toward the goal of spiritual self-improvement. And, THAT’S THE REASON FOR IT! God’s input is ALWAYS for our good, and that includes His “mirror”. We NEED to see our true selves, and seeing it we MUST react appropriately to the revelations we are given. In 2 Cor 13:5, Paul says, “Examine yourselves.....prove your own selves...”
The picture the mirror shows is truly real, but the real point is, “what are we going to do about it?” We can be the forgetful hearer who, after his initial acceptance of the flaws seen, waits until time and distractions dim its impact until no lasting good comes from it; Or, we can be the one who “looketh into the law of liberty, and continueth therein”, and so be blessed in his doing. Are you glad to have the mirror? Your response is the true indicator of its value in your life! –AcBelue
Editorial: Heaven and Hell on Earth
Have you ever heard someone say something they enjoy is heavenly? A popular song from some years back describes being in love as being “in heaven.” Heaven is associated with untainted joy and comfort, but it is also a place, a real place, a place we all hope to go to one day. The fact is nothing in this life can truly be compared to Heaven, unless perhaps it is to show how far short of Heaven secular joys must fall. Oh, we may certainly have glimpses of Heaven in this life – the unconditional love and joy of young children, the warmth of heartfelt brotherhood, the delight of passionate worship – but these things are merely a foretaste. They are not Heaven, and as good as my wife’s chocolate cupcakes may be, they are not Heaven either.
The same principle works in reverse in comparing earthly sorrows and horrors to Hell. Hell is associated with misery, pain, and hopelessness, but it is also a real place, a place where many will reside eternally, a place none of us ever want to go. War is horrible, but war is not hell. You may suffer many sorrows, but none of us have ever suffered the anguish of the rich man in torment (Lk. 16:23-31), at least not yet. Extreme suffering on earth may be a foretaste of Hell, but these sorrows cannot truly compare to the never-ending horror of banishment from the presence of God.
By the way, what do we really mean when we say something is sinfully delicious? I assume we mean that it tastes so good it should be forbidden, but is forbidden fruit really the best-tasting? It may seem like it at the time, but it has a pretty bitter aftertaste, and in the end the fruit of righteousness is just as good without any of the awful after-effects. Perhaps sinfully delicious should be reserved for items like five-alarm chili. It tastes great at the time, but you seem to suffer interminably for it afterwards.
Using such spiritual metaphors for earthly circumstances is profane in the literal sense as it treats sacred and/or spiritual realities as common. Let’s not confuse ourselves about the reality of spiritual places and things. Heaven is so wonderful that nothing on earth can properly be compared to it. Hell is so horrible that nothing we must endure on earth can truly describe it. When the Bible describes Heaven and Hell, it is describing real places. Let’s not deceive ourselves into thinking of either reality in any other way than it actually is. –The Editors
The Daily Treasure Hunt
I am a guy, and like most guys, I like adventure. I enjoy the thrill of discovery, even though my “discoveries” may not be in South American jungles, deep under the ocean’s surface, or out on the African plain. No, my daily quest for new discoveries takes place in a chair at home or in my office. My search takes place within the pages of the Bible, in this case, a Bible that I purchased for $0.25 at the thrift store for use in this year’s Bible reading program. I wanted a new, clean copy of the Bible that I wouldn’t mind covering with highlighter, notations, and post-it notes. So each day, I take my thrift store Bible, a highlighter that won’t bleed through the pages, and a ballpoint pen, and I go in search of what I may have overlooked on previous excursions.
Sometimes my discoveries are not new at all. I may come upon a word, phrase, sentence, or paragraph that I knew before but lately allowed to slip from my mind. Other times it may be something I know well but that has special meaning on this journey across the page. Sometimes I highlight passages I need to apply in my life, sometimes I highlight passages simply because I like them, and sometimes I highlight something because I don’t know what it means. I would never mark this freely in the Bible I teach and preach from, but by securing a volume strictly for daily exploration, I have freed myself to be more liberal in noting my observations of the text.
This may sound corny to you, the idea that daily Bible reading is a quest for hidden treasures. Maybe there is another metaphor that better expresses your own feelings about daily Bible reading. How ever you relate to your daily appointment with God’s word, I hope it is a pleasant, and perhaps exciting, association.
You can make daily Bible reading a burden or a blessing. You can think of your weekly reading assignment as something you “have to do” as something you “get to do” and be thrilled by your time spent in God’s word. Is your Bible reading a matter of grace or of guilt? I hope it is something you enjoy and will continue to enjoy throughout the rest of your life. It is exciting to be able to read and study God’s word. Join in the adventure.
Your
testimonies are wonderful;
Therefore my soul keeps them.
It gives understanding to the simple.
I opened my
mouth and panted,
For I longed for Your commandments.
(Psalm 119:129-131)
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