The Microscope or the Mirror?
Somewhere around age 8 or 9, I really wanted a microscope. I did well in elementary school, and I imagine a 3rd or 4th grade teacher had encouraged my curiosity to learn. At Christmas I received a science kit that included a microscope and the microscope slides that allowed me to examine anything I could place between the slides and under the microscope. It was fascinating to analyze things under the magnifying glass of a microscope.
Have you ever considered that while there is value in looking at the layers of something, if that is all you do, then you might miss the big picture and possibly miss how to apply what you have learned? Over the years, I have noticed that we often do something similar with scripture.
Many times I have heard individuals who profess faith in Christ say they want to “go deeper” in their faith. Generally, developing a deeper and more intimate connection with God is a good thing. However, sometimes, whether intended or not, deeper ends up meaning the desire to get more information about God and scripture but fails to consider the critical step of application.
Do you think that maybe we need to consider how scripture might be a mirror for us to look into so that we see the attitudes and behaviors we need to correct? Sadly, sometimes we have a tendency to read scripture and then put someone else under the microscope and evaluate how well they are or are not applying the truth of scripture.
In Ezekiel 28, the prophet is told to speak to the leader of Tyre. The message is pretty clear. The prince of Tyre has a very elevated view of himself: “You have said: ‘I am a god, I sit in the seat of the gods’”. I think that qualifies as one who is a bit full of himself. Ezekiel corrects this inflation of self and delivers this message from the Lord: “You are but a man, and no god, though you make your heart like the heart of a god.’” This is followed by a bit of sarcasm: “You are indeed wiser than Daniel; no secret is hidden from you.” Daniel lived in the same time frame as Ezekiel. All in the region knew of the wisdom and insight that God had given Daniel. And when reading Daniel, we learn that Daniel knew his wisdom and ability to interpret dreams was from the Lord and not because he had some self-learned ability.
Back to the microscope and the mirror. I will confess that as I thought about this verse, I quickly understood the judgement on the leader of Tyre because he had elevated himself to a place where his wealth and power had gone to his head. He saw himself as not needing God. He had a false identity. My confession is that I began to think of world leaders, politicians, celebrities, and others who have this same tendency. I put them under the microscope and confirmed their failures.
The thing I should have done first was consider how this passage is a mirror that I need to look at to evaluate where I have become prideful or so self-sufficient that I don’t need God’s help because with my experience I can simply take care of things by myself.
Our pride often whispers things like, “Look what I’ve accomplished.” A better thought would be, “Look at what God has done and what he has entrusted to me for his glory.” Pride makes us believe our own press releases and social media tweets and blocks our view of the humility we are called to as followers of Christ. The author C.S. Lewis once said of pride: “Humility isn’t thinking less of yourself. It is thinking of yourself less.”
It might be said that pride is the only disease that convinces us that we are healthy. Pride is subtle, it quietly moves God from the center of our lives to the edges of our view, where it is easier for us to congratulate ourselves for our accomplishments instead of thanking God for his generosity in all that he has given us.
Father, we ask that you remind us to look in the mirror of scripture to see what you desire us to change instead of looking in the microscope, constantly analyzing the behaviors of others. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Your Time with God’s Word
Ezekiel 28:2-10, 12-19 ESV
Photo by Pexels
Photo by Pexels
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