“For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know only in part; then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known.” (1 Corinthians 13:12, NRSV)
In the scripture for today highlighted above, the Apostle Paul described life in the present versus life eternal in Heaven. Life in the present is defined by Paul here as “dimly” visualized. Things are unclear. Paul referenced a mirror. In ancient times, mirrors were not clear like they are today. The image could be highly distorted due to the lack of perfect shape. The finish of the mirror was often polished metal with swirls and imperfections altering what you would see. Also, mirrors were not lit brightly like in many bathrooms or with makeup mirrors today. Light that was used to help the mirror reflect was often flickering as with candlelight or diffused even when in sunlight. The image in the mirror was FAR FROM PERFECT. Thus, when Paul speaks of viewing the present as “in a mirror, dimly”, he was saying that your view of life in the present is shaky, flickering, diffused and imperfect. You don’t have a clear picture of what is really going on. You only know things “in part” (1 Corinthians 13:12b).
Heaven will be different. You will see your life from God’s point of view. At that time, you will “know fully” all that God did to help you, sustain you, redeem you, protect you, and so much more. In Heaven, so much will be revealed to you. You will “know” so much more when God reveals the truth of all that happened around you. You see, God’s sight is so much more complete. God can see through Satan’s lies. God can perceive political maneuvering. God can see into the future. God can see into the soul to know the truth behind a person’s actions and thoughts.
But for now, for the present, you will see “dimly”. Your perception of what is going on around you is limited, faulty, flawed. Don’t be surprised if you are blindsided by the truth at points in your life. Don’t be surprised if you make bad choices because you didn’t have enough facts. Your knowledge of what is actually going on around you is inadequate, patchy, and even sketchy.
Because your view of what is really going on in your world is so limited, what can you do? First off, rely on God’s insight! As God can see all, tapping into God’s insight can totally change your perspective. God’s Spirit can inform you of things way beyond your human sight. God’s Spirit can cause you to sense a lie, search for the truth, and understand your situation. Second, don’t overlook the power of living a faithful life. When you follow God’s Word and listen to God’s voice, it informs you of so many things! Scripture teaches that Satan lies, people sin, the world is fallen, and so much more. Scripture informs you how to live, who to trust, where to look for the truth, and how to work through failures when you discern the truth. Finally, learn to trust God. When the world is bombarding you with hype, Satan is manipulating the truth, politicians and influencers are twisting the facts, seek God’s wisdom! Pray to God for direction. Listen for the God’s voice. Discern the leaning of the Holy Spirit in you! The Holy Spirit is in you, right?
The phone rang just as Father Joseph was walking into the Parish office. The secretary was not in yet, so he answered the phone. A woman asked to speak with Father Joseph. He didn’t recognize her name but said he would be glad to meet with her. An hour later, a beautifully dressed woman entered the Parish office. The secretary ushered her quietly into Father Joseph’s office. There, the priest spent the first few minutes getting to know Angela.
Angela wanted to speak with Father Joseph about her faith. As a Catholic, she felt torn between doing what the Bible said and what was best for her. Angela was pregnant. Her boyfriend was abusive. Her situation tenuous. What would she tell her Catholic family? Would an abortion save her from a life of suffering with an abusive boyfriend? She talked with Father Joseph for a good half an hour.
The entire time that Angela spoke, Father Joseph felt very uneasy in his soul. He had felt that before. Often, it was God trying to tell him something; the Holy Spirit giving him spiritual insight. After twenty constant minutes of this uneasiness, Father Joseph began to listen to his inner voice. Something was wrong. He needed clarity. He needed to end the time with Angela and pray for a while. Father Joseph set up another meeting with Angela and then went into prayer time.
For the next few minutes and hours, Father Joseph felt something was off. Then, over a period of a day or two, he realized that something was wrong in his conversation with Angela. Two days later, he understood why. Angela was an undercover reporter. She wrote an article against the Catholic Church and its views on abortion that included elements of her conversation with Father Joseph in her article! For weeks, Father Joseph had to defend his statements, was put on review, and was questioned by his parishioners. In the following weeks, his “set up” by the reporter was a source of public debate. Father Joseph barely survived the ordeal. If he hadn't cut short his time with Angela, who knows what else she could have used against him!
Don’t ever think you know fully what is really going on around you spiritually! There are so many lies and manipulations and worldly pressures that are forcing their will upon you at any given moment! There are things of which you are unaware! Jesus told His disciples that sending them out in the world to spread the gospel was like sending “sheep amongst the wolves” (Luke 10:3)! Wolves love to seek out the weakness of the sheep, to exploit their advantages! Do you not think that evil forces do the same?
Trust Jesus’ words! Listen to the Spirit! Seek the truth! Always be aware that for the present, you can’t see everything clearly. You see things “as in a mirror, dimly”. Until you know more, you are vulnerable. Until you are in Heaven with the Lord, you are never truly safe from harm! Faced with these dangers, there will be many ways God will protect you. Learning God’s Word and trusting God’s direction always helps!
Heaven will be different. You will see your life from God’s point of view. At that time, you will “know fully” all that God did to help you, sustain you, redeem you, protect you, and so much more. In Heaven, so much will be revealed to you. You will “know” so much more when God reveals the truth of all that happened around you. You see, God’s sight is so much more complete. God can see through Satan’s lies. God can perceive political maneuvering. God can see into the future. God can see into the soul to know the truth behind a person’s actions and thoughts.
But for now, for the present, you will see “dimly”. Your perception of what is going on around you is limited, faulty, flawed. Don’t be surprised if you are blindsided by the truth at points in your life. Don’t be surprised if you make bad choices because you didn’t have enough facts. Your knowledge of what is actually going on around you is inadequate, patchy, and even sketchy.
Because your view of what is really going on in your world is so limited, what can you do? First off, rely on God’s insight! As God can see all, tapping into God’s insight can totally change your perspective. God’s Spirit can inform you of things way beyond your human sight. God’s Spirit can cause you to sense a lie, search for the truth, and understand your situation. Second, don’t overlook the power of living a faithful life. When you follow God’s Word and listen to God’s voice, it informs you of so many things! Scripture teaches that Satan lies, people sin, the world is fallen, and so much more. Scripture informs you how to live, who to trust, where to look for the truth, and how to work through failures when you discern the truth. Finally, learn to trust God. When the world is bombarding you with hype, Satan is manipulating the truth, politicians and influencers are twisting the facts, seek God’s wisdom! Pray to God for direction. Listen for the God’s voice. Discern the leaning of the Holy Spirit in you! The Holy Spirit is in you, right?
The phone rang just as Father Joseph was walking into the Parish office. The secretary was not in yet, so he answered the phone. A woman asked to speak with Father Joseph. He didn’t recognize her name but said he would be glad to meet with her. An hour later, a beautifully dressed woman entered the Parish office. The secretary ushered her quietly into Father Joseph’s office. There, the priest spent the first few minutes getting to know Angela.
Angela wanted to speak with Father Joseph about her faith. As a Catholic, she felt torn between doing what the Bible said and what was best for her. Angela was pregnant. Her boyfriend was abusive. Her situation tenuous. What would she tell her Catholic family? Would an abortion save her from a life of suffering with an abusive boyfriend? She talked with Father Joseph for a good half an hour.
The entire time that Angela spoke, Father Joseph felt very uneasy in his soul. He had felt that before. Often, it was God trying to tell him something; the Holy Spirit giving him spiritual insight. After twenty constant minutes of this uneasiness, Father Joseph began to listen to his inner voice. Something was wrong. He needed clarity. He needed to end the time with Angela and pray for a while. Father Joseph set up another meeting with Angela and then went into prayer time.
For the next few minutes and hours, Father Joseph felt something was off. Then, over a period of a day or two, he realized that something was wrong in his conversation with Angela. Two days later, he understood why. Angela was an undercover reporter. She wrote an article against the Catholic Church and its views on abortion that included elements of her conversation with Father Joseph in her article! For weeks, Father Joseph had to defend his statements, was put on review, and was questioned by his parishioners. In the following weeks, his “set up” by the reporter was a source of public debate. Father Joseph barely survived the ordeal. If he hadn't cut short his time with Angela, who knows what else she could have used against him!
Don’t ever think you know fully what is really going on around you spiritually! There are so many lies and manipulations and worldly pressures that are forcing their will upon you at any given moment! There are things of which you are unaware! Jesus told His disciples that sending them out in the world to spread the gospel was like sending “sheep amongst the wolves” (Luke 10:3)! Wolves love to seek out the weakness of the sheep, to exploit their advantages! Do you not think that evil forces do the same?
Trust Jesus’ words! Listen to the Spirit! Seek the truth! Always be aware that for the present, you can’t see everything clearly. You see things “as in a mirror, dimly”. Until you know more, you are vulnerable. Until you are in Heaven with the Lord, you are never truly safe from harm! Faced with these dangers, there will be many ways God will protect you. Learning God’s Word and trusting God’s direction always helps!