When Lori and I were in Tennessee, we lived in a parsonage on the church property. The small, simple, brick house was a blessing to us as newlyweds just starting out. Like any parsonage, the house had its quirks and oddities. One interesting detail in the house was a large vinyl sticker that a previous occupant had installed on the bathroom mirror. The sticker read, “Mirror, Mirror, on the wall, do you see Christ in me at all?” After a shower, with the mirror fogged, the sticker would become impossible to ignore.
Though I never would have installed that sticker, it was a fantastic reminder through the day-to-day busyness of life. Sometimes the sticker would inspire moments of serious reflection. Sometimes it was ignored. Either way, the sticker posed a question of paramount importance for any Christian. We should all ask ourselves from time to time if others can see Christ living in us.
But, before we can answer whether others can see Christ living in us, we must ask what it would look like for Christ to live in us. We can go to Colossians 3 to see what it looks like when Christ lives in us. Colossians 3:3-4 reminds Christians, “For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory” (ESV). The rest of Colossians 3 describes what it looks like when Christ is our life. Let’s notice some of these details.
Some Things That Will Be Absent
If others will see Christ in us, there will first be some things that they do not see. For the mirror on the wall to see Christ in us at all, then it will not see sexual immorality, impurity, dishonorable passion, evil desire, covetousness, or idolatry. Christians are encouraged to rid their lives of these things by putting them to death (Col. 3:5). Likewise, for Christ to be seen in us, we must put away anger, wrath, malice, slander, filthy talking, and lying (Col. 3:8-9).
The only way for Christ to be seen in us is for us to “put off the old self and its practices” (Col. 3:9). We do this in repentance. But our transformation cannot stop there. We must also “put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator” (Col. 3:10). We do this in baptism, where we “put on Christ” (Gal. 3:27). So, if I have not repented and been baptized, there is little hope for Christ to be seen in me consistently. But, even if I have repented and been baptized, I must make sure that I am constantly taking up my cross and putting to death what is earthly in my life (Col. 3:5).
Some Things That Will Be Present
It is worth emphasizing that, others seeing Christ in us is not just about what they do not see in our life. For Christ to be seen in me, there must be some things that are present in my life. If others will see Christ in us, there are some things we must “put on” and make a part of who we are. We are to have compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience (Col. 3:12). For people to see Christ in us, they must see us bearing with one another, forgiving each other as the Lord forgives, and loving those around us with a love that binds us with perfect harmony (Col. 3:14).
Lastly, for Christ to be seen living in us, we must allow His peace to rule in our hearts, be thankful people, allow His word to dwell in our hearts while we praise Him, and represent Him in everything we do or say (Col. 3:15-17).
Colossians 3 reminds us that, for Christ to be seen living in us, He must fill our entire being. Our hearts, our minds, our words, our thoughts, our deeds, and our interactions with others should all reflect our Lord. Let us strive to allow Christ to be “all in all” in our very lives (Eph. 1:23)!
Maybe as you ponder the inspired list of what to remove and add to your life to reflect Christ, you see some areas that need improvement. If we are honest with ourselves, we all do. Thankfully, God is merciful and gracious and can work in us while we work for Him (Phil. 2:12-13).
The next time you see a mirror, ask, “mirror, mirror, on the wall, do you see Christ living in me at all?” Then commit to making the answer be a resounding “yes!”
Mirror, Mirror, on the Wall
When Lori and I were in Tennessee, we lived in a parsonage on the church property. The small, simple, brick house was a blessing to us as newlyweds just starting out. Like any parsonage, the house had its quirks and oddities. One interesting detail in the house was a large vinyl sticker that a previous occupant had installed on the bathroom mirror. The sticker read, “Mirror, Mirror, on the wall, do you see Christ in me at all?” After a shower, with the mirror fogged, the sticker would become impossible to ignore.
Though I never would have installed that sticker, it was a fantastic reminder through the day-to-day busyness of life. Sometimes the sticker would inspire moments of serious reflection. Sometimes it was ignored. Either way, the sticker posed a question of paramount importance for any Christian. We should all ask ourselves from time to time if others can see Christ living in us.
But, before we can answer whether others can see Christ living in us, we must ask what it would look like for Christ to live in us. We can go to Colossians 3 to see what it looks like when Christ lives in us. Colossians 3:3-4 reminds Christians, “For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory” (ESV). The rest of Colossians 3 describes what it looks like when Christ is our life. Let’s notice some of these details.
Some Things That Will Be Absent
If others will see Christ in us, there will first be some things that they do not see. For the mirror on the wall to see Christ in us at all, then it will not see sexual immorality, impurity, dishonorable passion, evil desire, covetousness, or idolatry. Christians are encouraged to rid their lives of these things by putting them to death (Col. 3:5). Likewise, for Christ to be seen in us, we must put away anger, wrath, malice, slander, filthy talking, and lying (Col. 3:8-9).
The only way for Christ to be seen in us is for us to “put off the old self and its practices” (Col. 3:9). We do this in repentance. But our transformation cannot stop there. We must also “put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator” (Col. 3:10). We do this in baptism, where we “put on Christ” (Gal. 3:27). So, if I have not repented and been baptized, there is little hope for Christ to be seen in me consistently. But, even if I have repented and been baptized, I must make sure that I am constantly taking up my cross and putting to death what is earthly in my life (Col. 3:5).
Some Things That Will Be Present
It is worth emphasizing that, others seeing Christ in us is not just about what they do not see in our life. For Christ to be seen in me, there must be some things that are present in my life. If others will see Christ in us, there are some things we must “put on” and make a part of who we are. We are to have compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience (Col. 3:12). For people to see Christ in us, they must see us bearing with one another, forgiving each other as the Lord forgives, and loving those around us with a love that binds us with perfect harmony (Col. 3:14).
Lastly, for Christ to be seen living in us, we must allow His peace to rule in our hearts, be thankful people, allow His word to dwell in our hearts while we praise Him, and represent Him in everything we do or say (Col. 3:15-17).
Colossians 3 reminds us that, for Christ to be seen living in us, He must fill our entire being. Our hearts, our minds, our words, our thoughts, our deeds, and our interactions with others should all reflect our Lord. Let us strive to allow Christ to be “all in all” in our very lives (Eph. 1:23)!
Maybe as you ponder the inspired list of what to remove and add to your life to reflect Christ, you see some areas that need improvement. If we are honest with ourselves, we all do. Thankfully, God is merciful and gracious and can work in us while we work for Him (Phil. 2:12-13).
The next time you see a mirror, ask, “mirror, mirror, on the wall, do you see Christ living in me at all?” Then commit to making the answer be a resounding “yes!”