February 26-27 – Reflections

"We are all with our unveiled faces reflecting like mirrors the brightness of the Lord. All grow brighter and brighter as we are turned into the image that we reflect; this is the work of the Lord who is Spirit" – 2 Corinthians 3:18 JB

We all have one in the house - in a handbag - in the car. Usually one in every room - in fact the sitting room may have more than one. I'm talking about - mirrors. You either like them, or dislike them, depending on whether you're confident, or insecure. In fact, look in a mirror at the wrong time - first thing in the morning for example….hair standing on end, eyes crossed trying to focus. You men, stubble on your chins….it's enough to bring on a bout of self-pity! Mirrors show us as others see us - they reflect our image.

But mirrors also have a crucial service. They show the blemishes….give us a chance to put ourselves right. They also reflect the light. That is their role. Our role is to be God's mirrors - this is our job description as Christians - to reflect God's glory.

The RSV version says "beholding as in a mirror." The JB version, "reflecting like a mirror." One implies contemplation, the other refraction. Both correct, because Paul was drawing a parallel between our Christian experience and that of Moses on Sinai. "After Moses beheld the glory of God, his face reflected the glory of God"…. And reflected God's glory to such a degree that when Moses came down from the mountain, the people of Israel couldn't bear to look at his face. The MSG Bible says they "could no more look right at him than stare into the sun" (2 Cor.3:7).

The brightness Moses had seen was the brightness he became. Beholding had led to becoming. Becoming had led to reflecting.

Isn't this what Christians do? We camp at the foot of the Mountain and look for glimpses of the glory of God. Are we mirrors in God's hands? - dare we be mirrors that reflect His light and message to the world?

Those of you who have been in the military know that in a sticky situation, mirrors can be used to send a message - an SOS signal. Every day in the media we see SOS signals sent out by a secular, drowning world. By letting our light shine, people see hope - they see a glimpse of salvation - they see that all is not lost, and they want a bit of what we have.

We are to be that reflection – like the SOS signal, we have a message to deliver.

Music today, Bryn's choice, Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver singing, “Let my life be a light.”