THE MIRROR OF LIFE…
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
Mirror: reflects images, to see self in a clear, accurate way, gives true representation…
WE NEED THE HOLY SPIRIT TO HONESTLY SEE OURSELVES IN THE LIGHT OF ETERNITY… OUR SPIRITUAL MIRROR!
LISTEN? LISTENING IS A LOST ART? WHAT DO YOU LISTEN TO…? WHAT IS GOD SPEAKING TO YOU TODAY?
I am not joking and I don’t want you to pass by these questions lightly. Think on these things? Ponder? Ruminate? Mediate? IF YOU HAVE EARS TO HEAR, WHAT ARE YOU HEARING? WILL YOU HONESTLY EVALUATE: WHAT IS GOD TRYING TO TELL ME? What is the Preacher trying to get us to TAKE HEED TO… What is our family saying that needs to be heard? Have you ever listened to hear: WHAT ARE YOU SAYING?
Maybe what seems very important to you today, might not seem to matter tomorrow? One of my basic thoughts is: NOTHING IS AS BAD AS IT FIRST APPEARS. Then I might add: THIS TOO SHALL PASS.
DO WE UNDERSTAND THE ROLE OF A MIRROR? THE ROLE LIGHT PLAYS TO VISION? HAVE YOU EVER SEEN A LIGHTED MIRROR? SEEMS WE CAN SEE IN THE WORLD’S LIGHT --- BUT ARE WE LIVING WITH ETERNITIES VALUES IN VIEW?
Proverbs 29:18 Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.
Proverbs 29:18 (MSG) If people can't see what God is doing, they stumble all over themselves; But when they attend to what he reveals, they are most blessed.
One of the most heated debates I ever listened to was about color and light. The discussion centered on a rose and darkness vs. light. One person told the story that the red rose was black in darkness. Turn the light on the rose was red. Turn the light off and the rose’s color changes to black. In a little light the rose’s color changes to gray. The other debater said that was crazy, the rose was red in the light, the rose was red in the darkness. The debate was long and got very heated. Neither convinced the other they were right or wrong? I just kept my mouth shut and listened.
If someone had sought my opinion I would have answered: IT IS ALL ABOUT PERSPECTIVE. I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I agree the rose is red in the light. But my opinion, the rose appears to be black in darkness. My opinion is the rose does not change colors in darkness. In darkness the rose appears to be black, but that is my vision’s ability to not see in darkness? Then why does the rose look gray at midnight? Again, I am not sure the red color changes --- me thinks it is the rods and cones in the back of my eye… and MY ATTITUDES have something to do with what I see and how I see it?
1 Corinthians 13:12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
1 Corinthians 13:12 (NIV) Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
1 Corinthians 13:12 (NLT) Now we see things imperfectly as in a cloudy mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely.
1 Corinthians 13:12 (MSG) We don't yet see things clearly. We're squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won't be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright! We'll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees us, knowing him directly just as he knows us!
**WE HAVE MANY VISION DISORDERS IN THE CHURCH TODAY?
*MYOPIA: near sighted, LACK OF DISCERNMENT or foresight,
*HYPEROPIA: farsighted, can’t see in front of you, but distant.
*HINDSIGHT: SEE AFTER THE FACT.
*TUNNEL VISION: only see in front no peripheral vision, narrow view point.
*BLINDNESS: UNABLE, REFUSE TO SEE
MIRROR, MIRROR ON THE WALL? WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO ME? WHAT IS THE VALUE OF LIFE?
WE ASK WHAT IS IMPORTANT AND WHAT IS THE VALUE OF LIFE?
Matthew 16:25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. 26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
A boy asked a wise man: WHAT IS THE VALUE OF MY LIFE? The wise man said that is a good question and I will teach you and you must find the answer for yourself. The old man turned around and picked up a dusty old rock. The wise man dusted off the rock and asked the boy what is the value of this rock? The boy answered: I DON’T KNOW? The old man said I want you to do as I say. Don’t speak a word, just hold two fingers up. Do you hear me: TWO FINGERS?
The old man told the boy go down to Walmart and stand there with the rock and see what someone will give
him for it. A lady came out and looked at the rock and said that will look good in my flower garden. How much do you want for that rock she asked? He raised up two fingers, and she said I WILL BUY THAT ROCK FOR $2.00.
So the boy ran back to the wise man’s house and said a woman offered me $2.00 for the rock.
The man looked at the boy and told him take the stone and go to the local jewelry store and just stand there and show them the rock. When they ask you what will you take for the stone raise two fingers and listen real close. So the boy went and stood near the cash register and the man came to him. He saw the rock and said how much do you want for that rock? The boy held up two fingers and the worker said: Sure, I will give you $200.00 for that rock. The young boy ran back to the wise man’s house and said: Sir, the worker offered me $200.00 for the rock. The young boy looked at the rock and pondered value? $2.00 vs $200.00.
The old man said I have one more lesson to teach. I want you to go down to the museum and ask to see the GEMOLOGIST about the value of the stone. Again you can only raise two fingers when he ask you how much do you want for the stone. So the boy caught the bus and rode to the museum. At the front desk the boy asked to see the GEMOLOGIST. The boy walked into the expert’s office and he held out the stone for the expert to hold. The GEMOLOGIST WAS SO EXCITED TO SEE THE STONE. The man said how much do you want for the stone? The boy held up 2 fingers? The Gemologist jump up and down, $200,000.00, that’s a deal. I will gladly pay you $200,000 for that stone.
The boy waited for the bus and was so excited as he returned to the wise man’s house. The old man was waiting. He asked what did you find out young man? The boy said: SIR, THIS IS A VERY RARE GEMSTON AND THEY WOULD LOVE TO HAVE IT FOR THE MUSEUM. HE OFFERED ME $200,000.00 FOR IT…
$2.00, $200.00, 200,000.00? DO WE UNDERSTAND THE VALUE OF LIVE, look in a mirror? ? Where do you sell yourself for little to nothing? You can make the WRONG DECISIONS? You can hang with the wrong crowd in the wrong place? You can play games and be lazy? OR YOU CAN GROW AND LEARN AND IMPROVE. You are a rare gem stone, Can you see your value? Look in the mirror, what is your value?
MIRROR, MIRROR ON THE WALL? WHO IS THE FAIREST OF THEM ALL? WHAT ARE WE WORTH? PERHAPS GOD VALUES YOU MORE THAN YOU VALUE YOU? DO YOU CARE? KNOW THIS: GOD CARES ABOUT YOU! YOU ARE WORTH MORE THAN YOU KNOW!
Matthew 10:29 Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. 30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.
Matthew 10:29 (NLT) What is the price of two sparrows—one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. 30 And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. 31 So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.
I AM TIRED OF FIGHTING…IF A DONKEY PEERS IN THE MIRROR SHALL HE SEE A THOROUGHBRED? MANY FEAR A MIRROR? WHY? THE MIRROR MIGHT REVEAL SOMETHING DEEPER? THE MIRROR REFLECTS LIGHT. LIGHT EXPOSES THE TRUTH.
Luke 15 records a lesson about light. The lady lost her coin! See lights a candle and the light exposed dirt. She cleaned up the dirt and found her coin. God desires us to COME TO THE LIGHT and the MIRROR WILL EXPOSE OUR PROBLEMS. Then we can correct our words, attitudes and deeds.
2 Chronicles 20:15 And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the LORD unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's.
2 Chronicles 20:15 (NLT) He said, “Listen, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem! Listen, King Jehoshaphat! This is what the LORD says: Do not be afraid! Don’t be discouraged by this mighty army, for the battle is not yours, but God’s.
HOW CAN WE CHANGE THE REFLECTION IN THE MIRROR? DUE SEASON IS COMING… ARISE GIVE GOD PERMISSION.YOU DETERMINE YOUR WORTH? WHAT ARE YOU WORTH? WHAT COULD WE DO IF WE WANTED TO…? BE NOT WEARY?
Psalm 68:1 Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered:…
Galatians 6:9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. 10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
COME TO GOD’S MIRROR AND SEE HOW WE REALLY ARE? DO WE STEAL FROM GOD? GOD HAS A PLAN, DO WE TRUST HIS PLAN?
We are worried about many things… look in the mirror… TRUST GOD’S PLAN…
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
Jeremiah 29:11 (MSG) I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.
CONCLUSION: MIRROR, MIRROR ON THE WALL TELLS US THE TRUTH: Could we discipline ourselves to: JUDGE LESS and give more mercy? Could we expect better, and quit being doomsayers? Could we see more, open your eyes, hear more, open your ears? Could we close our mouth, and listen more clearly? Could we love more, fuss and argue less? Could we hope more and fear less? Could we trust more and worry less? Could we believe more and doubt less. Could we read and study more and do less TV and cell phone? Could we have greater potential and dream more and quit complaining? Could we pray more? Could we read our Bibles more? Could you encourage other people more? We need the spiritual mirror of the Holy Spirit to lead and guide us.
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
Thank you my friends for reading my stuff. Our prayer is that God bless and keep you. May great wisdom be yours.
