Looking In God's Mirror

When we wake up in the morning, what do we do? Do we simply get out of bed, put on our suit, grab our car keys and make our commute to work? Do we walk into the office a disheveled mess, looking as if we had just crawled out of bed — our hair wild, tie crooked, one blue and one brown sock, face in dire need of a shave?

Perhaps we know someone who does this, but most of us get up in the morning and spend a little time in front of the bathroom mirror. As men, we spend time with a razor, trimming away the growth of beard, and combing our hair. The ladies take the time to primp and put on make-up. We give attention to certain details to make us look "professional" or at least "presentable" to the outside world. We do these things, because most of us look a mess in the early morning.

Spiritually speaking, what do we do after we hear a sermon? Do we shake the preacher's hand and say, "good lesson," then walk to our car, make the trip home, and forget about everything we've heard? Do we hear the call to action presented in the sermon? Do we examine ourselves in light of what has been taught from God's Word (2 Corinthians 13:5), or do we simply walk away with a "warm fuzzy feeling" that we've spent a little of our precious time listening to God's word presented, then give it no more thought?

This writer fears that far too many Christians give little heed to what is presented in God's word. We hear the sermon, leave the building, and forget everything that was taught, not making any application to our lives. James tells us, "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural fact in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like" (James 1:23-24 ESV).

The picture here, is of one who sees that he needs to make changes in his appearance, spiritually speaking. He has noticed his disheveled look, and realizes he needs to do something about it. But as soon as he turns away from the mirror of God's word, he forgets what he needed to do to make himself appear presentable before God.

Man is going to answer on the Day of Judgment for how he has made application of the "mirror" of God's word (Matthew 7:21; John 12:48). While the teacher has a grave responsibility in teaching God's word (James 3:1), the hearer also has a responsibility to deal with what he hears, and make proper spiritual application of it in his life (Luke 8:18). James tells us, "But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing" (James 1:25 ESV).

The Christian who "continues" in the Word, does not get a "warm fuzzy feeling" from sitting through the sermon but rather is convinced, convicted, and makes the necessary changes in his life. Dear reader, let us resolve to spend more time looking in God's mirror! (Psalm 1:1-2).

—Mike Riley, Gospel Snippets