“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” (James 1:23-25).
Mirrors are a commonplace item. Shops even have mirrors so that the customer can see himself or herself when trying on the product. James describes the Bible as a mirror for man to see himself. It is written in another place, “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Heb. 4:12). Consider three spiritual concepts of looking at the Bible like one is looking in the mirror.
- Capacity of Time While Looking in the Mirror. How much time does the average person look into a mirror on a daily basis? That probably varies from survey to survey. How much time does the average person read the Bible to truly see himself as God sees? That is a much more important question. The Holy Spirit through James uses words like “beholding” (James 1:23), “beholdeth” (James 1:24) and “looketh” (James 1:25). These words denote more than just a casual glance. The word in verse 23 is in the tense that means to continually look as in a long look in the mirror. The longer one looks into the pages of the Bible the more likely one is exposed to the truths God wants man to know about himself. Some may not look long due to the fact that they are seeing things they may not like (cf. John 3:20). Regardless of what the Bible may reveal to a person, looking within from the reflection of the Bible over time is a good thing.
- Consideration When Looking in the Mirror. The references to looking as in a mirror entail some interesting thoughts from the original words. The word translated “beholding” (James 1:23) and “beholdeth” (James 1:24) is from the word meaning “to consider attentively, fix one’s eyes or mind upon” (Thayer, p. 334). The word translated “looketh” (James 1:25) means “to look carefully into, inspect curiously” (Thayer, p. 484). Looking into a mirror involves the intent to see what is really there. One may not like what he sees but the mirror does not lie. The Bible speaks the truth (cf. Ps. 119:160). Man who deceives his own heart by denying what the Bible says does such to his own ruin. One who seeks to know the truth will see things like God says in the Bible (cf. Prov. 28:5).
- Conviction After Looking in the Mirror. Once one looks at his reflection in the mirror of the Bible, he then has a choice. The blessed man is not forgetful of his need and is a doer of the work (cf. James 1:25). The deceived man quickly forgets what he has learned about himself and goes his way living life on his own terms (cf. James 1:24). Most people would quickly fix something out of place in their physical appearance when exposed to the reality in the mirror. The convicted, contrite child of God wants to come to the light and see accurately so that life may be beautiful inside and out (cf. John 3:21).
Jimmy Clark