We easily notice our reflections when we see them, don’t we? Mirrors. Windows. Water. For some reason, We automatically take notice when we see our own reflections. But how often do we consider the depth of what our reflections mean?
We see a physical body when we look at our reflections, but let’s go beyond that. They say “the eyes are the window to the soul,” but have you ever tried to look through your own window?
Genesis 1:26 gets at this depth too.
“Then God said, ‘Let Us make make in Our image, according to Our likeness…”
While “image” and “likeness” mean basically the same in the Hebrew, Medieval theologians believed “image” referred to “natural reason” and “likeness” to “original righteousness given before the fall.” In essence, the idea of having the “likeness” and “image” of God gives mankind the ability to think & reason, a quality no other creature possesses. This image reflects a state of perfection that existed before the fall of Man in the garden and to which we are being restored.
This promised restoration (1 Corinthians 15:49 & 1 John 3:2) comes only through Jesus Christ, the exact representation of God (Hebrews 1:3) and the perfect human being (John 1:4). More specifically, it comes through being united with Him by faith. He removes the veil covering our hearts that allows us to reflect the depths of who we are in Him.
“Whenever, though, they turn to face God as Moses did, God removes the veil and there they are—face-to-face! They suddenly recognize that God is a living, personal presence, not a piece of chiseled stone. And when God is personally present, a living Spirit, that old, constricting legislation is recognized as obsolete. We’re free of it! All of us! Nothing between us and God, our faces shining with the brightness of his face. 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 like him.” (2 Corinthians 3:16-18, MSG)
Even in this fallen world as we follow Jesus to restoration, our lives can still reflect Him. As we allow God increasing reign in our lives, as we know Him more and more, we become more like Him. In other words, we become more restored to our original likeness, the perfect “likeness” and “image” of God in which we were created. That’s some pretty heavy thinking, yet Scripture clearly bears this to be true.
So as we consider the depths of who we are, as we consider the realities of our images, we can be encouraged that God’s Spirit working in and through us is restoring that image to perfection. And that’s the depth you can catch a glimpse of if you look past your physical reflection and into the reflection of your soul.
DISCUSSION: How does your view of yourself change as you realize your life reflects Him and that you are being restored to a perfect likeness of Him as you get to know Him?