Life, a mirror
For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I shall know fully just as I also have been fully known. (I Corinthians 13:12)
The fact that God created man in his own image teaches us that our true mission is to reflect the image of God as a mirror. To be such a mirror of God is truly serving God. For this reason, a faithful servant of God walks in the ways (good works) which God prepared beforehand, and apply all of one's heart to add to his faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; to knowledge temperance, and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. (2 Peter 1:5-7) To enable us to reflect God's image, the word challenges us to become “partakers of the divine nature. This is possible with the support of the Spirit of truth to guide and lead us into all truth. (John 16:13)
Even the most exalted human wisdom is unable to reveal us the thoughts of God and his true love. Nobody knows what concerns God, but the Spirit of God who searches all things, even the depths of God. (1 Corinthians 2:10-11) Thus, the urge within us not to be loosed does not come from us; it is a gift from God. Indeed, for by grace we are saved through faith.(Ephesians 2:8) When Philip asked Jesus, “Lord, show us the Father”, he received this answer,
"He who has seen me has seen the Father; how do you say, ‘show us the Father?’ The words that I say to you I do not speak on my on initiatives, but the Father abiding in me does His works. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me; otherwise believe because of the works themselves." (John 14:8-11)
By expressing these virtues of Christ in works and concrete actions in the everyday life, we become ambassadors, being such mirrors in which God can reflect his image.
In a certain way, we participate all in a process of divine love and self-knowledge.
"For God who said, ‘Light shall shine out of darkness’ is the one who has shone in our hearts to give light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ." (2 Corinthians 4:6)
God expresses his being, as he did for Christ, by a direct light - his word; whereas the truth that the mirror of our lives sends back to him is a reflected light - the Word becoming flesh, that is God’s Word that has been practiced. To us, to do what it takes to return only the light of our true communion with God.
"If we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another." (I John 1:7)
To reflect the light of God is what it really means to serve God. The significance of our choices is measured not by what we are doing around us, but what happens within us. Our choices should not be motivated by the desire how to change the outside world, but how to be transformed ourselves. To be transformed into the image of Christ is our true accomplishment in life.
"Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who exercises loving kindness, justice, and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things." (Jeremiah 9:22-23)
"In all your ways acknowledge Him, and he will make your paths straight." (Proverbs 3:6)
The divine process of transformation and evolution does not start with humans and does not end with us. The world history is actually God’s story:
"I am the first one and I am the last, and beside me, there is no God." (Isaiah 44:6)
God is and remains the Subject, and everything is only about Him.
We humans are only means that God uses in a process of self-expression and reflections he chooses. Our life has ultimately only meaning when this divine process of transformation can take place in us. This also becomes our greatest and the most magnificent of rewards.
This divine process of transformation is reflected in the magnificent Song of Songs of Solomon. This one shows that true love is a unity that contains several while remaining one. Never let us forget that true love always rewards itself by love.
"We love, because He first loved us." (John 4:19)
History does not start with us and it does not end with us. It is all about God.
"Know therefore today, and take it to your heart, that the Lord, He is God in heaven above and on the earth below; there is no other." (Deuteronomy 4:39)
We all know intuitively that our life would be meaningless if it had not a means to a greater end beyond our poor egocentricity. Fortunately, the Scriptures lead us away from ourselves and head us towards the service for God.
"In that day the Lord will be the only one and His name the only one." (Zechariah 14:9)
Yes, on that day, we shall realize that life was not our story but the history written by God, about God, for the sake of God.