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Reflections That Restore
How God’s Word reflects, convicts, and transforms us as we behold the face of Christ.
We all know the discouragement of bad mirrors. Whether it’s the distorted reflection of a video call or the harsh lighting of an airplane bathroom, these mirrors seem to magnify every flaw. They leave us wondering, Is this really what I look like? The judgmental eyes of critics often feel like mirrors too, reflecting only our failures and shortcomings. After facing these harsh reflections, we long for a better mirror one that doesn’t just expose, but heals.
By God’s grace, we have such a mirror. The Bible offers us something far more powerful than any earthly reflection: a mirror that mends. Seventeenth-century pastor and poet George Herbert described Scripture as “the thankfull glasse, that mends the lookers’ eyes: this is the well that washes what it shows.” God’s Word does not only reveal our brokenness but also begins the work of restoration.
Let us consider three ways that Scripture functions as this transforming mirror.
1. The Mirror of Conviction
Reading God’s Word with open eyes requires courage. Unlike the flawed mirrors of the world, Scripture shows us a terrifyingly accurate reflection of our hearts. As Hebrews 4:12 declares, “The word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit . . . discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”
Scripture exposes not only our external behavior but our deepest motives. It reveals when we have cherished idols, pursued selfish desires, or wrapped ourselves in religious pretense while harboring unbelief.
For example, how often do we feel justified in our anger, only to be confronted by James 1:20: “The anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.” Or when we neglect to serve others, Jesus reminds us in Matthew 25:45, “As you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.” These verses cut deeply, peeling away self-righteousness and revealing sin we might prefer to ignore.
As Hebrews continues, “No creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account” (Hebrews 4:13). Scripture shines full light on the reality of our hearts. But the story doesn’t end with exposure — because this mirror also points us toward redemption.
2. The Mirror of Redemption
The convicting work of Scripture is not meant to leave us in despair but to drive us to Christ. In the pages of God’s Word, we see both the depth of our sin and the height of His grace.
The book of Romans demonstrates this journey powerfully. Paul begins by stripping away every false confidence: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). But as we keep looking into the mirror of Scripture, we encounter the staggering hope of redemption: “God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).
In this mirror, our identity shifts. We are no longer isolated sinners, but redeemed sons and daughters, united to Christ by faith. Romans 12:5 reminds us that “we, though many, are one body in Christ.” Through the atonement of Jesus, the mirror reflects not the face of the condemned, but the face of one clothed in His righteousness.
This new vision fills us with hope and joy. As Romans 15:13 proclaims, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing.” The mirror that once terrified now comforts.
3. The Mirror of Transformation
God’s Word does even more than convict and redeem it transforms. As we continue to behold Christ through Scripture, we are progressively shaped into His image.
John describes this remarkable transformation in 1 John 3:1–2 “See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. . . . We know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.”
We are not merely observers of Christ’s glory we are being changed by it. 2 Corinthians 3:18 explains, “We all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another.” Each time we look into the mirror of God’s Word, we encounter the face of Jesus, and by the Spirit’s power, we become more like Him.
2 Corinthians 4:6 captures this wonder: “For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” In Scripture, we behold our Savior His humility, His mercy, His purity, His love and are drawn into deeper fellowship with Him.
Scripture’s Glass: A Mirror of Mercy
When we dare to look into the mirror of Scripture, we see ourselves with startling honesty. But as we keep gazing by faith, we see something far greater: Christ in us, the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27). We are being remade not by our own effort, but by His grace, as we behold Him.
George Herbert concluded his poem by writing, “Heav’n lies flat in thee.” In the flat pages of Scripture, the infinite glories of heaven meet us. But only the humble see clearly. As we bow before the Word in repentance, God lifts our eyes to behold His beauty and in beholding Him, He makes us whole.
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