Mirror, Mirror

Mirror, mirror on the wall, who was that woman? She was chubbier than I—and certainly had more laugh lines (What in the world had been so funny to this gal?). Her hair was standing up all over her head in a none-too-attractive, willy-nilly style. But those pillow marks were probably the most disturbing. She must've been lying on a couple of giant pillow wrinkles that cloned themselves all across one cheek.  "That's going to leave a mark," I thought. It looked like a couple of those marks were the kind that last until after noon. I'm just glad that never happens to me.

The part that really fooled me was that she was wearing my jammies and robe, but, with as much humility as I can muster, I must say that they really do look much better on me. Still, I couldn't imagine who was behind such an elaborate prank! Imagine changing the reflection in the mirror!

Here's something else to reflect on. As children of God, we are called to be "reflections" of his glory. As I look into the mirror of my spiritual life, I have to ask myself exactly what kind of image I'm reflecting.

If I'm walking in the Spirit and living in his love, then it's a loving spirit of grace and glory that others will see reflecting from me. I'll reflect his image. And here's good news:  if there's changing to be done in the spiritual look of that image in the mirror, I'm tickled to say that I serve a God who is faithful to make all the right changes. He's transforming me into his image. That's the perfect look! 2 Corinthians 3:18 says, "But we all with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord" (NKJ).

Colossians 3 tells us how we have taken off the old self with its spiritual pillow marks and crazy hair. We've put on the new self "which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator." (Verse 10, NIV)

These days it's all about "image." I want mine to be, well…his.  The Message translates 2 Corinthians 3:18 this way: "And so we are transfigured much like the Messiah, our lives gradually becoming brighter and more beautiful as God enters our lives and we become more like him."

Brighter and more beautiful? Someone should probably tell that pitiful woman I saw in the mirror that she doesn't need to worry about physical beauty. Becoming more beautiful is really about how much we're allowing the Father to work in our lives—whether or not we're looking like him. I guess I'll be the one to tell her. I have this feeling I'll be seeing her again.

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Contributed by Rhonda Rhearrhea@juno.com
Rhonda Rhea writes for dozens of other great Christian publications and speaks at conferences and events across the country. Her new book,Amusing Grace,is due out in March. Rhonda's husband, Richie Rhea, is pastor of First Baptist Church of Troy, Missouri. You can contact them through her Web site:www.rhondarhea.net