“ So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and
female He created them.” Genesis 1:27.
“ Mirror, Mirror on the wall, who’s the fairest of them all?” If you were allowed to watch
Disney movies growing up, then this line is one of familiarity. It’s the same tone Satan
set, separating himself from God. He wanted to be fairest, the best, above God.
Admiration and praise were not attributes my life had ever encountered, until it did. As
these unfamiliar qualities entered my life, I fell into the deception of believing I had
deserved them all along and was merely a victim of being overlooked. God challenged
me to question why this admiration was important to me. I believed the attention being
received was love, something my soul deeply craved. Further contemplation would
clarify these characteristics as empowering and invigorating, causing me to feel superior
and good. It’s as if I were standing in front of a self-pleasing mirror, singing, “ mirror,
mirror on the wall, who’s the fairest of them all.” I had fallen into the devil’s trap for the
love of being praised. Conviction fell like a hard stone pulling me down into the depths
of the sea. I had desired to be another man’s idol. Further analyzing my life choices, I
had to question the motives behind all my striving, because striving is part of the
ungodly choice that further quenches my spirit from living in the abundance of God’s
fruitfulness.
You have two roads that can be traveled. One is in the image of God, your Creator. Just
like anything that is made or grown, it does not thrive under an unnatural climate for that
species, nor does it operate effectively using parts outside of the manufacturer. You are
born to thrive under the precepts of your creator and dwell in the fruits of the Spirit as
promised in the Bible.
The second road traveled is the one outside of your Creator. Living under the standards
of culture, rather than God. Ineffective, you will not operate well and grow fruitfully. The
culture, a world set apart from God’s ways, challenges you to look into your mirror of
self-glorification and unbiblical fixes. Every thought pattern of injustice, victimhood, and
an inability to forgive stems from bearing an image outside of Christ.
The image of God is beautiful and set apart. His image includes love in a healthy
manner, humility, servanthood, and forgiveness. His image declines the temptation of
sin and provides redemption for your sinful choices. In His image, your only striving
should be to glorify Him in all you do. Everything else is just the image of the culture
around you.Your heart desires to know and be known by Him. Remain in the image of God, and His
fruitfulness will fill you beyond your control. Is there any greater honor than holding a mirror reflecting God.
~Walking Restored~ 