James encourages his readers to follow the directions they receive from the Lord.
But be doers of the word and not merely hearers who deceive themselves.
For if any are hearers of the word and not doers, they are like those who look at themselves in a mirror; for they look at themselves and, on going away, immediately forget what they were like (James 1:22-24).
Why do we look in the mirror? Mirrors are used to correct or improve our appearance.
Isaiah wants his audience to look at their reflection in the way God views them. He wants them to repent and return to a faithful relationship with the Lord.
First Look in the Mirror: Full but Empty
If the people see themselves as God sees them, they will recognize that they may be full of material goods, but empty with regard to the spiritual.
For you have forsaken the ways of your people, O house of Jacob. Indeed they are full of diviners from the east and of soothsayers like the Philistines, and they clasp hands with foreigners.
Their land is filled with silver and gold, and there is no end to their treasures; their land is filled with horses, and there is no end to their chariots.
Their land is filled with idols; they bow down to the work of their hands, to what their own fingers have made (Isaiah 2:6-8).
Full: Prosperity, military might, and alliances with other nations may provide a sense of security.
Empty: Diviners and soothsayers derive their power from demons. Idols are nothing more than the work of human hands.
The illusion of prosperity and security is acquired at the expense of an empty connection with idols and demons.
The Second Look in the Mirror: Pride Brought Low
John, the beloved disciple, once had his feet washed by Jesus (see John 13). When John saw Jesus in His resurrected glory, his response was a mixture of intense humility and the fear of the Lord.
“When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead” (Revelation 1:17).
According to the prophet, there will come a time when everyone will experience what took place in John’s life.
And so people are humbled, and everyone is brought low — do not forgive them!
Enter into the rock, and hide in the dust from the terror of the Lord, and from the glory of his majesty.
The haughty eyes of people shall be brought low, and the pride of everyone shall be humbled; and the Lord alone will be exalted on that day.
For the Lord of hosts has a day against all that is proud and lofty, against all that is lifted up and high.
The haughtiness of people shall be humbled, and the pride of everyone shall be brought low; and the Lord alone will be exalted on that day (Isaiah 2:9-12, 17).
One of the best gifts we can give ourselves is to practice humility right now.
Pride at its highest point is when we learn what God wants from us and refuse to do it. That sort of pride reveals the belief that we know more than God.
Disobedient pride expresses a belief that God doesn’t love us or is not able to provide for our needs.
One day, all pride will be humbled. Let’s not look into the mirror of God’s law and turn away in disobedience.
The Third Look in the Mirror: Worthless Idols
In 2011, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar auctioned off four of his six NBA championship rings along with other memorabilia. The sale raised approximately $2.8 million, which he donated to his Skyhook Foundation, a charity focused on providing educational opportunities for underserved children through STEM programs.
Kareem, as a Muslim, understands the worthlessness of worldly idols possibly better than many followers of Jesus. Here’s Isaiah’s message about the future of all idols.
The idols shall utterly pass away.
Enter the caves of the rocks and the holes of the ground, from the terror of the Lord, and from the glory of his majesty, when he rises to terrify the earth.
On that day people will throw away to the moles and to the bats their idols of silver and their idols of gold, which they made for themselves to worship,
To enter the caverns of the rocks and the clefts in the crags, from the terror of the Lord, and from the glory of his majesty, when he rises to terrify the earth.
Turn away from mortals, who have only breath in their nostrils, for of what account are they? (Isaiah 2:18-22).
Idols range from championship rings, power, material goods, other humans, and much more. Like John on Patmos and Isaiah (see Isaiah 6), a vision of Jesus will change our estimate of idols.
As followers of Jesus, we will run toward Him. As His opponents, we will run from Him.
Today is a great day to look in the mirror of God’s word and make the necessary corrections to our relationship with God.
YouTube Discussion
Rudy Ross, Bruce Kirby, and I discussed this passage on YouTube.
Real Voices 