Through a Glass Darkly
We see through a glass darkly. Our life here on earth is in many ways like that of a child because our understanding is limited; the glass or mirror we look through is dark.
8
Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for
tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we
know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when the perfect comes, the
partial will pass away. 11 When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I
thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I
gave up childish ways. 12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then
face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I
have been fully known.
13 So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
1 Corinthians 13:8-13, ESV
Through a Glass Darkly
For now we see through a glass darkly. I Corinthians 13:12a KJV
Our life here on earth is in many ways like that of a child because our understanding is limited; the glass or mirror we look through is dark. Our love for God, for others, even for ourselves is also limited by this darkness.
If you've ever tried to look through a darkened mirror to comb your hair, put on your makeup, or shave, you understand the meaning of verse 12. The mirror I use has three bright lights on both sides; I can notice the difference if even one light is burned out.
For what do we use the mirror in verse 12? The mirror reflects our own image back to us. In this life we only see a partial image; we really don't see ourselves as we really are. In addition, we don't see our hearts. God sees our image, inside and out, as it really is; He knows us fully and sees our hearts as they really are. Our understanding of God and of the people around us is also darkened.
When God brings us to Heaven everything changes; the clouded mirror is suddenly crystal clear. We are no longer a child, but have become an adult who now knows fully. We struggle while on this earth because we don't understand God fully, and we don't even understand ourselves fully. However, when we cast our crowns of life before our Lord and Savior, we will understand perfectly.
How many fairy tales do you know that end, "And they lived happily ever after"? As adults we smile at that because we know that is impossible in this life. However, because God puts His truth in the heart of man, we do understand the concept of happily ever after. God's love for us is so complete and so pure that as true believers we do have an eternity to look forward to that is "happily ever after".
Pray today that God would lighten the glass you look through and give you a better understanding of the reality of this life and the life to come. "Happily ever after" only comes through faith in Christ.
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