Who Am I? Who/What Should I Be?
The Man In The Glass (Poem written by Peter Dale Wimbrow Sr., 1934)
When you get what you want in your struggle for self
And the world makes you king for a day
Just go to the mirror and look at yourself
And see what that man has to say.
For it isn’t your father, or mother, or wife
Whose judgment upon you must pass
The fellow whose verdict counts most in your life
Is the one staring back from the glass.
He’s the fellow to please – never mind all the rest For he’s with you, clear to the end
And you’ve passed your most difficult, dangerous test
If the man in the glass is your friend.
You may fool the whole world down the pathway of years
And get pats on the back as you pass
But your final reward will be heartache and tears
If you’ve cheated the man in the glass.
Does this poem line up with God’s Word?
Who is “the man in the glass” or the woman in the glass? Is it only a reflection or is it something more? Genesis 1:26-27 reveals, “Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, in our likeness’ … So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.”
What does being “created in God’s image” mean? Does it mean that we are all individual gods who are in charge of our own universe? (If we are honest, this is how some of us live, as we persistently strive to control everything and everyone around us.) Proverbs 14:12 says “There is a way that appears to be right to a man, but in the end it leads to death”.
Ephesians 2:10, enlightens us as it says, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”
We should take note of the words “prepared beforehand.” It implies that we were created for something other than to serve and please ourselves. Moreover, if we were “created in His image,” then what is to be our life’s purpose? Could this mean that we were created for something much higher – for God’s purpose? If this is true, then shouldn’t our life long motivation be to mirror or imitate God’s image? How do we go about doing this? What obligation and responsibility should we place on ourselves in order to carry this out?
John 15:8-10 clarifies this. It says, “My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples. Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.”
John 13:34 says, “A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love for one another.”
John 14:21 points out, “He that has my commandments, and keeps them, he it is that loves Me: and he that loves Me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest Myself to him.”
Now we see and understand who the man or woman in the mirror should truly be – the image of the Savior of the world, Jesus Christ. We are to shine brightly forth His reflection throughout our lives. Thank you for this revelation, Father.
A Believer’s Prayer:
Heavenly Father, I see what your Word is calling your people to do – what it is calling me to do. You desire for me to walk higher, to walk in devotion and obedience to your Word so that I might be safe and sound (John 3:17) and then You will be lifted up and glorified through my life. I humble myself before you (Psalm 25:9) and ask in Jesus’ name that you give me the desire, the strength and the courage to do Your will and to accomplish that which you have prepared for me in advance (Philippians 4:13, Jeremiah 29:11). Your desire is to bring about Your Kingdom, here on earth (Matthew 6:10). I choose to seek after You and Your righteousness before anything else, each day (Matthew 6:33). I will do this by reading your Word (Psalm 119:105), by praying and by waiting for Your guidance, in silence (Psalm 32:8). I will choose each day to be your reflection (Genesis 1:26). I love you, Father, and thank you for your love, mercy and grace. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Other Key Scriptures:
Proverbs 3:5-6, Joshua 1:8, Isaiah 41:10, Isaiah 45:2, Isaiah 54:17
