p. 658 | The Two Mirrors by John Norton Loughborough

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Oct 26, 1915

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 42, No. 42.

The Two Mirrors

By John Norton Loughborough

By J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH

IN Scripture representations of the work of grace, two mirrors are presented, but they are quite different in their manner of working.

One, like a toilet mirror, gives an exact delineation of the person who looks into it, presenting to him his actual self. The other transforms him into the image he beholds. The first of these mirrors is thus spoken of by the apostle James: “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 [“mirror,” R. V.]: 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.

So the mirror that gives the man a complete delineation of himself, is the law of God. “By the law is the knowledge of sin.” Rom. 3:20. “Sin is the transgression of the law.” 1 John 3:4. “Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way.” Ps. 119:104. So we see that the law of God is the mirror that gives one a reflection of his natural condition.

Of the other mirror we read in Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass [“mirror,” R. V.] the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” 2 Cor. 3:18.

The glory of the Lord is His character. When Moses besought the Lord, “Show me Thy glory,” he doubtless had in mind the excellent brightness of the Lord’s face. From the Lord’s reply to this request, we judge that He deemed it more important, at that time, for Moses to know the loving character of the Lord, than simply to have the eye gratified. So the Lord said, “I will proclaim the name of the Lord before thee.” Ex. 33:19. “And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaiming, The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin.” Ex. 34:6, 7.

It is the goodness of the Lord that leads us to repentance. Rom. 2:4. Repentance is the first step in the godly life. As we behold “His great love wherewith He loved us” (Eph. 2:4), and that He gave Himself for us, and “gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil world” (Gal. 2:20; 1:4), we are transformed by the renewing of the mind (Rom. 12:2), changed from the character vile to the character of Christ, because His Spirit now works in us “both to will and to do of His good pleasure” (Phil. 2:13).

The Lord help that we may each receive the benefits to be derived from the full working of the two mirrors.