The Mirror of Self-Examination

The Mirror of Self-Examination

“But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.” 2 Cor. 3:18.

At the conclusion of his letter to the Corinthians, Paul exhorted them to examine themselves: “Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? —unless indeed you are disqualified.” Ch. 13:5.

A mirror is useful for self-examination. You look in the mirror to see yourself, to see what you look like, so you can do something about the things you don’t like. The changes you make while standing in front of the mirror are dictated by the cultural standard that you choose to live by. But here the apostle is not speaking about things that are seen, but about things that are unseen: the hidden life with Christ in God. Col. 3:3-4.

A disciple of Jesus Christ has a mind to examine and compare himself to the image he beholds in the word of God. Christ has become his standard, and his longing is to walk in the light, just as He is in the light. With an unveiled face, he does not only see the truth about himself, but he also sees Jesus, “. . . because He is at my right hand.” Ps. 16:8.

The human tendency is to hold up the mirror to other people and judge them according to my own standard of righteousness. It’s like a little child who doesn’t care about their own appearance and who, therefore, has no practical use for a mirror. The Corinthians were at this stage in their development. They compared themselves among themselves and therefore were divided into factions, with some following Paul, some Peter, and others Apollos. Paul was very blunt with them saying: “You are looking only at the outward appearance of things.” 2 Cor. 10:7 (AMP). They were unable to see the hidden person of the heart, neither in themselves nor in others.

We will always only see in part when we look into the mirror of self-examination. The Spirit of truth is our guide to all truth, and He glorifies Jesus in our inner mirror. My love for His righteousness and my hatred for my own righteousness grows and increases as I always carry about in my body the dying of Jesus. Then a transformation into His glorious image takes place, from glory to glory—hidden inside an earthen vessel. 2 Cor. 4:7-12.

As time passes, we may look in a mirror and no longer see the flower of our youth. However, with an unveiled face, we can see that our inner man is being transformed and renewed. Ignoble thoughts have been replaced with noble thoughts. As we sing in WotL no. 361: “Noble thoughts spread forth their leaves, and godly nature now does abound.” This is the promise of divine nature. This is the work God has promised to do in those who believe and obey His word. Everyone who has this hope in Him—the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ—purifies himself, just as He is pure. 1 John 3:1-3.