Mirror, Mirror, On the Wall…

By Michael K. Farrar, O.D.

© God’s Breath Publications

 

James 1:23‑24

“Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.”

 

Susan had a problem. She was a compulsive shoplifter. Add to this the fact that she worshiped jewelry and Susan was a crime waiting to happen. Whenever she went into a department store she would make a bee‑line for the jewelry department. There her eyes would gaze upon the beautiful rings, necklaces and bracelets under the protective glass. Standing before the treasure trove her heart would begin to fill with the desire for something that was not hers. Filled to the brim with covet for silver and gold her quick hands would steal the precious items of beauty. Over the years she had improved in her skills at sneaking all sorts of jeweled trinkets into her pockets and purse. She would never take a lot, but always at least one item or possibly two. She knew it was wrong but could never bring herself to cease from her addictive behavior. Little did Susan know that something would happen which would cause her to question her compulsive acts of theft.

 

A close friend of Susan had invited her to attend church Sunday. Susan was hesitant, but finally agreed to go. She had attended Sunday school as a child but had not frequented a church since high school. Susan was not prepared for what was to happen to her that Sunday. The pastor had spoke about Jesus, His death on the cross and the need for her to accept Christ as her Savior. The words from the Bible that the pastor had shared seemed to pierce her heart and soul. She had gone forward and accepted Christ and pledged to live for Him in all she did. Susan went home full of joy with the new relationship she had with her Heavenly Father. But it wasn’t too long before the Holy Spirit whispered to her about His concern over her shoplifting.

 

At first, Susan tried ignoring the voice of conviction. As soon as she sensed the Holy Spirit speaking to her about her sin she would try and think about something else. There were so many other things that really needed changing in her life, why was God pestering her about this one? Over the next few weeks she made some efforts at reforming. She avoided going into stores which had jewelry sections and even packed away much of her stolen treasures so that their glistening and sparkling beauty would not encourage her to go out and acquire more.  

One day, Susan was in a local department store and failed to pay attention to what she was doing. All of a sudden she found herself standing in front of a jewelry case full of tempting gold rings. She froze. She stared at the gorgeous gold bands that lay before her. They seemed to be calling to her, “Take me home, take me home.” She tried to turn her head in another direction but their voices called out again, “Just take one of us, one little ring won’t hurt.” Susan slowly turned her head back towards the collection of intricately made rings. She heard the Holy Spirit within her first as a whisper, then louder and louder, “Do not steal.” She struggled to block out the voice of God’s Spirit. She knew the clerk was gone and it would be very easy to take a single ring to cherish. She moved over to the counter and slowly reached underneath the glass case. Her fingers were almost on the beautiful ring when she glanced up to see if anyone was looking. There in the mirror on top of the display case Susan saw a woman looking back at her. The woman stared at her as if caught with her hand in the cookie jar. Both women gazed at one another for the longest moment. Simultaneously each woman looked down at each other’s hand. Each of their hands was poised over the same beautiful ring. The women looked back at each other with guilt written all over their faces. Susan noticed a tear form in the eye of the woman she stared at; then felt a small wetness fall down her own cheek.  Susan removed her hand from the display case, without the ring. As Susan left the store she prayed to her Lord to forgive her for her lack of obedience and how she had quenched the voice of His Spirit within her. She vowed to go home and get rid of all her stolen jewelry. She committed herself to seek to listen intently to the voice of God whenever He would speak to her again.

 

What would happen if a mirror were placed in front of you during those secret moments when no one is looking? Would it reveal an obedient servant of Christ or a child of God straying from the narrow path? How do you respond to the promptings of the Spirit as He convicts you of sin and wrongdoing? Are you obedient and listen, or do you look for ways to justify your actions?

 

Possibly you don’t know Jesus as your Savior and the person you would view in such a mirror would reflect the hopelessness of a life without Jesus? God desires to have a relationship with you. He wants to mold you into the person you were meant to be, someone who can bring glory to Him in their daily walk. Look into the mirror of scripture and accept Christ as your Savior.

 

James 1:23‑25

“Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it‑he will be blessed in what he does.”