HERE, NOW AND ALWAYS

What do you see when you look at your reflection in the mirror shortly after getting up in the morning. At times I feel a bit like the wicked queen in Snow White’s adventure. As I recall she said something like, “Mirror, Mirror on the wall; who’s the fairest of them all?” The mirror always answered “You are!” - Until Snow White was on the scene.

Now I don’t have a mirror that speaks. It doesn’t need to. Looking at my reflection speaks volumes as I trace the lines etched into my face by time. There was a time, many years ago, when I could look at my reflection and feel satisfied with what I saw. Not exactly Charles Atlas, but a comparatively average young man with lots of living in front of him. (D. V.) Those days are now remembered as my time of vanity. Penny Coellen had just won the Miss World beauty contest and the average young male gazed into the mirror believing that if she could win Miss World, we could appeal to someone who compared favourably with the sort of man her title warranted. (Pride – yuk!)

Those were the halcyon days of Brylcream (a little dab ‘ll do ya.) and ducktail hairstyles for men! I rather suspect that most of us thought we were the answer to some young maiden’s prayer!

Those days have gone. In place of hair there is baldness; Brylcream no longer helps - except as a polish. There are now more lines on our faces than train lines in Cape Town. The chest has sunk down into the region of the stomach. So what I now see when I look in the mirror reveals the stark reality of the aging process. I don’t like what I see!

However it is not the magic mirror looking at me. Someone far better and much more reliable now whispers in my ear. He tells me that to him I’m not a mess. In fact He tells me that in His sight I’m exactly right. He isn’t looking at my outer physical shape. He’s looking inside me and can see the spirit man he “recreated”. I may not be a modern Penny Coellen; wrong gender anyway. But He sees me as I will be when I am with Him. I wish I could do that!

It seems that this world is completely upside down. In Him we are renewed day by day. In the world I get older every day! It’s comforting to know that although the grave is likely to interrupt the process, at the very end, what Jesus sees will be reality!

Today’s meditation looks at this in more detail.

Blessings

Jim & Phyllida Strickland.

HERE, NOW AND ALWAYS

I looked at my reflection in the mirror on the wall. I thought it was familiar and was what I could recall. The hair was grey and balding where once there was a mop But time had done its damage and was nothing I could stop. The face was far from perfect. It looked wrinkled and was lined. It surely wasn’t handsome, distinguished or refined. The chin was rather hairy and it needed to be shaved. It didn’t look respectable but didn’t look depraved. I looked in fascination at the things that I could see. It was a mirror image that represented me. I saw the spots and pimples, the results of passing time. It didn’t look too terrible except for ingrained grime. Then deep inside my spirit I thought I heard a voice. “The things that you are looking at are the result of choice. It may look quite presentable, acceptable to you. But son, from My perspective, it really will not do. I’m looking for a people who want to be My bride. Arrayed with all the splendour of the glory that’s inside. A people who are spotless and completely wrinkle-free. Do you think you’re acceptable to be the one for Me?” I looked in disappointment at the person whom I saw. It surely was impossible; not handsome anymore. A tear then started forming in the corner of my eye. I knew what Jesus wanted and I could not comply. And then he whispered softly as He ministered to me. “Look now at the picture of the person whom I see. Look into your spirit for there you will behold, The man who I have moulded from a piece of purest gold. Look at the perfection, for I have done it all. I’ve made you pure and spotless unhampered by the fall. The moment when you trusted and gave your life to me. I gave you all the qualities that only I can see. You look at your appearance; I see your inner man. You see your imperfections. I see the bigger plan. You think it is impossible; My son that is quite true. But I have made a masterpiece and recreated you. Stop looking at the creature that both your eyes have seen. Instead look at the person I’ve shaped into a queen. A picture of the glory of what only I can do. A born again example of where I’m taking you. So be a little patient with the passing of the years. The day is not too distant when I’ll wipe away your tears. And we will be forever in a place where we will be, Bride and groom together for all eternity Jim Strickland – Written 30 December 2011