Deception of the Mirror by Karen Mielke

If you were to see the transformation of an ordinary piece of glass turn into a mirror you might say that it was supernatural. How did that happen, right before my eyes? It wasn’t supernatural at all. It was the right combination of various ordinary elements introduced to each other at just the right time that produced an object we see everyday. Do you ever leave the house to face the world without looking into a mirror? How about looking in your rear view mirror or side view mirror while driving. We all do those things without thinking about them. They are automatic.

To create a mirror one starts with a very clear piece of glass. A mixture of a tinning solution and specific chemicals that have been mixed thoroughly are poured onto the glass and swirled carefully and allowed to sit for just a matter of seconds, rinsed and receive a mixture of powdered silver nitrate that has been mixed with another set of chemicals and again poured onto the glass, swirled freely on the glass and allowed to set for only a matter of minutes. Again rinsed and another solution poured on and this time allowed to set for just a little longer and allowed to thoroughly dry. After each procedure, the mirror begins to emerge. The final step is a brushing of black paint. And there you have it - an object that reflects exactly the image before it. Sounds so simple, and yet each step needs to be followed to the letter or you can end up with a terrible mess that needs to be discarded. But if done right, it works every time.

Let’s break down the process into metaphorical symbolism and realize how easy and simple it all works, ending up with the same final outcome every time. The first time it happened was in the Garden of Eden. God placed Adam and Eve in a perfect place where there were no smudges on a crystal clean piece of glass. They could see and talk with God with no hindrances at all. Satan was there watching and began mixing his invisible concoction of mental and emotional ingredients to present to the happy pair. His subtle and masterful approach was to ask a question, not of general interest about God

Genesis 3:1, “Can it really be that God has said, You shall not eat of every tree of the garden? 2 And the woman said to the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden, 3 Except of the fruit which is in the middle of the garden. God has said, You shall not eat of it, neither shall you touch it, lest you die. 4 But the serpent said to the woman, You shall not surely die. 5 For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be as God, knowing the difference between good and evil, and blessing and calamity. 6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good (suitable and pleasant) for food, and that it was delightful to look at and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate; and she gave some also to her husband, and he ate. 7 Then the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves apron-like girdles.”

The first step took place as a question and doubt about the nature and purposes of God. “Can it be that God said…?” It was the first step in marring the perfectly clear glass. Eve was caught off guard and had no idea for what she was being set up. The second reasoning came when Satan accused God of selfishness and secrecy. She was hooked, ate the fruit and offered it to her husband. Immediately the glass turned into a mirror, their eyes were opened, and the only thing they could see was a perfect reflection of themselves - completely naked. Death infused them. God’s plan was to give life, and to restore the mess man had created. He sent Jesus to die to bring life back to mankind.

Romans 5:18 says “Well then, as one man’s trespass - one man’s false step and falling away - (led) to condemnation for all men, so one Man’s act of righteousness (leads) to acquittal and right standing with God, and life for all men.”

What Jesus did was remove the black paint, the silver nitrate, the tin metals and all the chemicals that make everything work so effectively and left us with a clear piece of glass that has no imperfections or dirt on it. It is the cleanest of clean - as clean as He is.

Romans 8:1 says, “Therefore (there is) now no condemnation - no adjudging guilty of wrong - for those who are in Christ Jesus, who live not after the dictates of the flesh, but after the dictates of the Spirit.” (Amp.)

Imagine standing in front of that glass that is pure, as though it doesn’t even exist and see the Father. Look more intently until you focus on His eyes. You will see a reflection of yourself, not naked as were Adam and Eve, but rather as God sees you, free of guilt and condemnation.

Zechariah 2:8 says, “For thus said the Lord of hosts, after His glory had sent me (His messenger) to the nations who plundered you, for he who touches you touches the apple or pupil of His eye.“

You are loved, precious and cherished by God Himself, the apple of His eye. Now how does all of this work in the world in which we live? Have you ever said to yourself, “Just a little bit won’t hurt”, “Just one more bite and then I will put the rest away,” or I know I can win the next game on my computer. I can’t go to bed after losing the last game. I have to leave on a winning streak.” Each time you think those words and submit to them, another portion of your glass turns into a mirror. Are mirrors evil? No, they just reveal the true image of who we are, clouding our perspectives, stealing away so much and robbing us of the fulfillment of what we really want. Without realizing it, we can’t see through a glass anymore, just a reflection of ourselves and we say the next morning, “Now, why did I do that? I need another cup of coffee just to wake up.”

John 13:10 says,”Jesus said to him, Any one who is bathed needs not to wash except his feet, but is clean all over. And you (My disciples) are clean.”

What Jesus asks us to do is exactly what He asked of Peter. Sit down, take your sandals off - recognize those things that cloud up the glass and hinder that intimate closeness with God, and let me wash away the dirt. We don’t lose our salvation, just our peace that has been replaced by inner conflict and disappointment. How long does it take to remove the black paint, tin and silver from our mirrors? - our confession that we have sought our own pursuits of pleasure, ask and believe that Jesus removes it because we couldn’t do it ourselves! Jesus said His disciples are clean