As Water Reflects

As water reflects a face, so a man’s heart reflects the man. (Proverbs 27:19, NIV 1984).

My Musings – Notice the order. It is quite revealing. A person may for a time be able to hide the reflection of their heart from others through deception. It was never hidden from God, however, because He knows their heart. But the person’s heart will always be a true reflection of the person. “For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.” (Matthew 15:19, NIV 1984).

What’s in the heart is the true reflection of the person. And while others may not be able see the reflection of things concealed in the heart, they will when they spill out of the heart. As they always will. First, as “evil thoughts,” then as actual acts of the things listed. And even if they did not, the evil thoughts are enough to condemn.

My Advice – We cannot conceal, but we can turn. “Anyone [who] turns to the Lord…[will] reflect the Lord’s glory, [as they] are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory.” (2 Corinthians 3:16–18, NIV 1984). What are we reflecting? A “heart [that] is deceitful above all things and beyond cure” (Jeremiah 17:9, NIV 1984) apart from Christ?

If so, “the Lord [will] search the heart and examine the mind, to reward a [person] according to [their] conduct, according to what [their] deeds deserve.” (Jeremiah 17:10, NIV 1984). And “the heart reflects the [person],” which is always “deceitful…and beyond cure.” And what is that reward? “Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.” (Matthew 25:41, NIV 1984). That would be Hell. And yes, it is real.

But if we turn to Christ, we receive a new heart. A heart that will “reflect the Lord’s glory.” As a result, “there is now no condemnation for those who are in [have turned to] Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.” (Romans 8:1–2, NIV 1984). And what is the reward, or rather, gift in this case? “Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you.” (Matthew 25:34, NIV 1984). That would be Heaven. And yes, it is real.

The advice is clear. We should turn to Christ. And yes, He is real also.