Remember that ubiquitous comeback line when we were children?  Usually from a sibling (and accompanied in rapid succession with the sticking out of the tongue).  Sometimes (cringe) to a parent or teacher or maybe babysitter, or anyone who said something to us which we didn’t particularly like:  “Look in the mirror!”

In a very different take on that line, I want to talk about one of my all-time favorite verses in the entire Bible which has been such a blessing and practical, tangible benefit in my life.

I actually referenced it in a recent post, as a side note, but I’d now like to circle back and give it the focus and spotlight it deserves.  It’s Proverbs 14:8.

• “The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way, but the folly of fools is deceit.”

The more I look around at current-day society, the more and more deception and self-deception I see floating around.  This should come as no surprise to anyone:  “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?” (NKJV/KJV)  The NASB translates it thusly:  “The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; who can understand it?”

The plain and simple – and firsthand 🙁 – truth is that ALL of us are prone to self-deceit, to self-deception.

While not dealing with issues as they arise from time to time in our lives is bad, what’s even worse is NOT SEEING THEM in the first place, right?  Because the former is IMPOSSIBLE WITHOUT the latter.  To state the obvious, we can’t resolve an issue we don’t see.

“12-step” plans have been all the rage in the recovery sector for decades. so no disrespect to those, if someone finds them to be a helpful aid in getting their life back on track, fantastic, but I’m going to give you a TWO-step plan to resolve ANY issue or problem that may arise in life:

STEP #1:  Look into the MIRROR of the Bible to see which qualities and conduct should and shouldn’t be in your life

• “But be DOERS of the word [Bible], and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” (NKJV)
• “But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.  For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was.” (James 1:22-24, NASB)

STEP #2:  Then DEAL WITH THEM, right away, without dilly-dallying around

• “But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and ABIDES by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man shall be blessed in what he does [i.e., issues resolved!]… let everyone be QUICK to hear…” (James 1:25 then verse 19, NASB)

That’s all there is to it.  This really is all that’s needed.  To look at what the Bible says, then look at our lives and get the latter in line with the former as needed.

In other words… the Bible:  read it then heed it.  Read then heed… or bleed.  Your choice, my choice, the choice of each and every person (Romans 14:12).

We tend to complicate and indeed over-complicate the Christian life.  To largely spin our wheels.  And thus needlessly waste so much time and opportunity.  I’ve certainly been guilty of this throughout my life.  I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – and many times in the future:  I’ve been the biggest sinner I know, I’ve been the biggest sinner I’ve ever known, and I’ve been the biggest sinner you’ve  probably ever known, at least that’s my perspective, having 24/7 awareness of my past sins and utter sinfulness.  But praise the Lord I can honestly say that such has kept decreasing and decreasing dramatically, constantly with only little blips here and there which, like the first flames of a forest fire, should be put out immediately lest it spread (otherwise it will) – ever since I started memorizing the Bible on a regular, systematic basis.  Psalm 119:11 is true!  Colossians 3:16-17 is true!  The Bible – and maximally, memorizing and reciting  it regularly… not just as a part of your daily life but AS your life daily, as a lifestyle – is the antidote for sin.  The antidote.  Prayer is great in this regard, too, but is informed by Bible memory and recitation, which greatly, greatly, greatly (in extent and essence) frees and unleashes and expands the capacity for the Holy Spirit and prayer in our life.

In another recent post I discussed how important, indeed how crucial and imperative it is to “examine ourselves” and “test ourselves” and “be all the more diligent to MAKE CERTAIN about” our salvation, that it’s genuine and not just a figment of our self-deception or mere guessing or hopeful wishing (2 Corinthians 13:5; 2 Peter 1:10).  I mentioned many specific “tests” the Bible itself clearly and plainly provides for us to do just that, including the entire books of James and 1 John which themselves are just such a checklist and written for that main purpose. (James 1:4; 1 John 5:13)

So to end this post, I’ll reference those very specific tests but add a general guideline or “key” to grade the test.  A way to confirm the validity and genuineness of our salvation “at a quick glance” as it were.  Two verses:

• “To the pure, ALL THINGS are pure; but to those who are undefiled and unbelieving, NOTHING is pure, but both their mind and their conscience are defile.  They PROFESS to know God, but by their DEEDS they deny Him, being detestable and disobedient, and worthless for any good deed.” (Titus 1:15-16)  This does NOT refer to an utter lack of sin in one’s life, or we’d ALL FAIL the test every time; rather, it’s about what characterizes a life, the overall, overarching pattern.  I.e., if your innate, “first instinct” and default desire is to NOT sin, to avoid and reject sin, you pass the test; yes, you’ll stumble from time to time, but not fall, not stay down (Romans 11:11).  However, if one’s knee-jerk reaction overall, in most cases, is to sin, to indulge and give into temptation, a rigid and immediate self-testing and spiritual evaluation with self-honesty should be administered at once, without delay, as that would be a huge “caution flag” and warning… in soccer lingo, a “red card” like no other.
• “But the path of the righteous [saved, believers, Christians] is like the light of dawn, that shines BRIGHTER AND BRIGHTER until the full day.” (Proverbs 4:18, which is echoed in 15:24 — “The path of life leads UPWARD for the wise”… the overall pattern is up, up and away, brighter and brighter for the rest of one’s post-salvation life, ever-increasing righteousness)  That very first word, “But”, signals a contrast – just like Titus 1:15-16 – so I’ll go ahead include all six verses of this passage so you can see the dramatic contrast:  “Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not proceed in the way of evil men.  Avoid it, do not pass by it; turn away from it and pass on.  For they [unsaved, unbelievers, non-Christians] cannot sleep unless they do evil; and they are robbed of sleep unless they make someone stumble.  For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.  BUT the path of the RIGHTEOUS is like the light of dawn, that shines brighter and brighter until the full day.  The way of the wicked is like darkness; they do not know over what they stumble.” (Proverbs 4:14-19)

Resolving and affirmatively settling and confirming one’s genuine salvation will remove any and all “big picture”, overarching anxiety in one’s life.  Guaranteed.  Not some of the “small picture” episodes (Bible memory will take care of those!) but ALL of the big-picture variety.  Because each of us instinctively knows that eternity, the life to come, is the ONLY thing that really matters in this  life. (Ecclesiastes 3:11; Romans 1:19)

We’ve grown up and come a long way, yet ironically the key to this life and the one to come is this:  “Look in the mirror!”  Then comb our hair, promptly, if it’s out of place.
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