Introduction:
Probably every one of us looks at the individual
staring back at us in the mirror every day. When you do this, do you do so
pleased with what you see or with an unfavorable perception? Whether pleased
or not we say, “That person looking back at me is just like me!” But that is
not exactly so! From our perspective we see that which we perceive to be
symmetrical. Symmetrical is a fancy word for balanced proportionally in every
way. This would include: size, shape, and relative position of parts on
opposite sides. Even though the person looks like us, there is a difference.
As you look in the mirror raise your right hand. What does the person do
that’s looking back at us do? Why that person raises their left hand! Or,
look right into those eyes and wink with your right eye. The image in the
mirror winks back at us with their left eye.
That which is the opposite of being balanced is
asymmetrical. The “a” added to the word symmetrical means “not.” In other
words, it is not balanced.
In like manner we may not have a true perception of
other people. That is, we may “jump to conclusions” before we have adequate
evidence to make a right judgment. At Matthew 7:1-5 our Savior
warns about making preconceived judgments. He states: “Judge not, that ye
be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with
what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest
thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that
is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the
mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou
hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou
see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.”
We should use righteous judgment. Jesus at
John 7:24 urges us to use righteous judgment, with these words: “Judge
not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.” He
also reveals how to do this at Matt. 7:20. In that passage the
Son of God declares: “Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.”
In Like manner, we want others to so judge
us. But the BIG QUESTION is how do we judge our self? It is possible
for you or me to deceive our self. At least the following two passages reveal
this possibility.
I Cor. 3:18, “Let no man deceive himself.
If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool,
that he may be wise.”
I John 1:8, “If we say that we have no sin,
we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.”
Discussion:
I.
WHEN WE LOOK INTO THE MIRROW OF GOD’S INSPIRED WORD, WHAT DO WE SEE?
James 1.23-25, “For if any be a hearer
of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face
in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway
forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect
law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a
forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his
deed.”
A.
We are to conform into the image of the Godhead.
1.
We were created in the image of the Godhead.
Gen. 1:26-28, “And God said, Let us make man in
our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of
the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the
earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God
created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male
and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them,
Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have
dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over
every living thing that moveth upon the earth.”
2.
Unfortunately many do not wish to be in the image of the Godhead.
Rom. 1:20-23, “For the invisible things of him
from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the
things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they
are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him
not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations,
and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they
became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image
made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and
creeping things.”
B.
As we look deeply into the mirror of the Bible we’re able to see our
faults and shortcomings.
1.
And in doing this we are able to perfect our lives.
II Corinthians 13:5, “Examine
yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not
your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?”
II.
JESUS CHRIST AND HIS INSPIRED WORD PROVIDES US WITH THE PERFECT IMAGE
AND PRINCIPLES FOR OUR LIVES.
A.
Jesus Christ lived a perfect life while here upon earth.
Heb. 4:15, “For we have not an high priest
which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all
points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.”
B.
And His inspired Word guides us in partaking of the divine image of the
Godhead.
II Pet. 1:3-11, “According as his divine power
hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through
the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are
given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might
be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is
in the world through lust. And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your
faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to
temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly
kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you,
and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in
the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacketh these things is
blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his
old sins. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling
and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: For so an
entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom
of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”
III.
WE ARE TO PORTRAY HIS LIFE AND PRINCIPLES IN OUR OWN LIVES.
Phil. 1:20-21, “According to my earnest
expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but
that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be
magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death. For to
me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”
A.
We do this by following the example of His life here upon earth and by
adhering unto the principles of His Will, the New Testament.
I Pet. 2:21-25, “For even hereunto were ye
called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that
ye should follow his steps: WHO DID NO SIN, NEITHER WAS GUILE FOUND IN
HIS MOUTH: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he
threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:
Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being
dead to sins, should live unto righteousness BY WHOSE STRIPES YE WERE HEALED.
FOR YE WERE AS SHEEP GOING ASTRAY; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and
Bishop of your souls.”
ROM 12:1-2, “I beseech you therefore,
brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living
sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And
be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of
your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and
perfect, will of God.”
IV.
BY PARTAKING OF THE IMAGE OF GOD WE CAN BE AN EXAMPLE UNTO OTHERS.
Matt. 5:13-16, “Ye are the salt of the earth:
but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is
thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot
of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be
hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a
candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your
light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your
Father which is in heaven.”
Acts 4:13, “Now when they saw the boldness of
Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they
marveled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.”
Conclusion:
James 1.22-25, “But be ye doers of
the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a
hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his
natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and
straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the
perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful
hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.”
You and I need
to ask ourselves:
“What kind of a congregation would this be if every member was like me?”
They will be
motivated to follow our example as we in turn allow Christ to direct our life.
I Cor. 11:1,
“Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.”
--Dub Mowery