A picture or a mirror?

Most of us have had professional photographs done. There are all kinds of ways these pictures can be doctored up to make us look better. Blemishes can be covered. Glares on the glasses can be dampened. Adjustments can be made in shades to improve the appearance. We do these types of polishing to make ourselves look better.

But a mirror is something entirely different. Their reflection makes us face the hard reality of our appearance. All of the bald spots, the blemishes, the zits, and gray hairs are there – right in front of us. Sometimes it’s not pleasant to find what look at – especially in the morning.

But we certainly need to look at them, don’t we? Most homes have mirrors in the bathrooms and the bedrooms. And they are necessary for tending to our personal appearance. We wouldn’t want a mirror that lies to us, would we? We need to know our genuine appearance each morning so we can get ourselves ready for our day at work, at church, or wherever it is we go to.

By contrast, there’s something less than genuine about pictures. Maybe sometimes we save them for scrapbooks, but most of the time we use them to put forth the best image possible. We send them out to friends and family members with our Christmas letters. We put them up for display in our homes and our workplaces. We send them out with our résumé’s. Most often the goal with a photograph is to give the best appearance. Sometimes people even make themselves smile when they don’t feel like it.

I don’t object to a good photo. We all use them. But the point I’m getting at is that sometimes we need a mirror more than a photo, simply because sometimes we need to face the hard truth about ourselves more than an ideal or a false image. I say that because sometimes Christians become more concerned about appearance than reality.

The Bible is like a mirror in some ways. It speaks words to us to address the hard realities of our spiritual needs – needs that we otherwise might avoid addressing. Psalm 17:11-12 says this…

By them is your servant warned;
       in keeping them there is great reward.

Who can discern his errors?
       Forgive my hidden faults.

The Psalmist sees the scriptures for their revealing and correcting powers. They warn us. They point us in the direction of a rewarding life. They reveal our faults that we might not otherwise be aware of.

Doing this isn’t easy. Maybe that’s why some folks are reluctant to engage the Bible or go to church. People can be afraid of what the Lord might say to them. Personal discovery, then, can be an intimidating venture.

But always remember this: No matter how ugly the reflection, a person is always glad they’ve used the mirror before going out in public. And just as the mirror can impact our appearance, so the Bible can impact our lives.

God bless you,

 Andrew McHenry, Pastor

Maple Hill Community Congregational Church